Sept. 30, 2005

Colgate University freshman hitter Katrina Zawojski (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) recorded a Raiders single-match record 31 kills to lead the Colgate volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Patriot League opponent Holy Cross this evening on Cotterell Court. Zawojski surpassed Judy Culhane's '99 mark of 30 set in 1997. She also added a career-high 24 assist in the contest for her sixth double-double of the season.

The Raiders (2-14, 1-2 PL) earned their first league victory of the year with an exciting four-match win of 30-21, 30-27, 28-30, 30-24 over the visiting Crusaders. Holy Cross falls to 5-10 overall and 1-2 in the conference loop.

Senior Allie Nichols (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento) also was outstanding with a career-high 64 assists. Her assist is tied for third on the all-time single-match records book at Colgate. Sophomore Erin Kanetzke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) posted a season-high 11 kills, while sophomore Sheila Giovannini (Waltham, Mass./Arlington Catholic) added 17 kills.

Defensively, freshman libero Jackie Adlam (Marin, Calif./Marin Academy) was outstanding once again with a game-high 31 digs. She remains on pace to break the single-season record for digs held by Natalie Rawson '05.

In the opening game, the Crusaders jumped ahead 4-1 in the early going, but freshman Christy Gault (Lincolnshire, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) served five straight points to put the Raiders ahead for good at 9-6. Colgate continued that run, outscoring Holy Cross 8-2 to stretch the lead to 17-8.

The Crusaders pulled to within six, but could not get any closer as the Raiders won the final three points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The second game was much closer with both teams tied late in the game, 21-21. Junior Marybeth Maziarz (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) took over after that, winning four straight points on her serve to put the Raiders up 25-21. The Crusaders pulled to within one point twice down the stretch, but Colgate held off the Holy Cross charge for the 30-27 victory.

Maziarz finished the night with a season-high nine kills and seven digs.

Looking to close out the match in three games, Colgate grabbed the early advantage 15-10. The Crusaders had other ideas, battling back from the five-point deficit to win 30-28.

The fourth game of the evening was neck-and-neck until the Raiders broke open the 17-17 deadlock with a 10-5 run for the 27-22. Colgate never looked back, winning 30-24 for the match victory.

The Crusaders were led by sophomore Christine Strawson with 24 kills, while senior Caitlin O'Callahan and freshman Molly Anderson added 12. Anderson also led the team with 20 digs and junior Chrissy Fanning contributed 52 assists in the losing effort.

The Raiders continue their Patriot League schedule on Oct. 1, hosting Army on Cotterell Court at 7 p.m.