The AU volleyball team’s lack of defensive play resulted in their Oct. 3 loss to Colgate University.
The Eagles lost a close match to the Raiders in four sets; 25-14, 23-25, 23-25 and 23-25. Colgate ended their losing skid to the Eagles, which dated back to 1996 when the two teams met for the first time.
“Our defense just wasn’t there in the last three sets,” said Head Coach Barry Goldberg.
All things looked to be going the Eagles’ way in the first set. After losing the first point of the match, the Eagles rallied for six unanswered points and never looked back. Colgate could only climb within four points the rest of the way.
AU looked sharp on both sides of the ball, committing only one error and converting just under half of their attacks.
However, things went south from there. In the second set, the two teams battled back and forth with neither being able to open up more than a two-point lead. Colgate pulled away as the game went on, pulling away to take the set.
Halftime had the teams tied at one set apiece, but the Eagles looked clearly frustrated, knowing that they only had themselves to blame for what was going on.
The Eagles looked frustrated when they opened the third set, jumping out to a 13-9 lead.
Colgate held tough however, fighting back to tie the set at 14-14. The Raiders went on a 5-1 run that ended up propelling them to a win in the third set.
Sloppy play continued in the opening stage of the fourth set. AU looked to be pulling away but committed back to back faults, allowing Colgate to get right back into the match. The fourth set began to resemble the previous two sets, as the two teams battled back and forth with each team unable to get too far out in front.
The Eagles had a chance to break free, serving at 23-21, but after a Colgate time-out, the Raiders came out to win the next four points to take both the fourth set and match.
The lead changed 18 times and both teams were tied on 37 different occasions. The Eagles seemed to play well-rounded volleyball except for the error-filled third set, leading or being very close in most statistical categories.
“[Colgate] beat us to the punch the last three sets,” Goldberg said. “We couldn’t get to and set-up our blocks.”
Two bright spots for the Eagles came from junior outside hitter Magdalena Tekiel and freshman setter Krysta Cicala. Tekiel set a career high for kills with 21 on 39 attempts with only four errors to hit an outstanding 43.6 percent for the match. She also managed five digs and one assist. Cicala contributed an impressive 44 assists to the team’s 51 total assists. She also added six digs and one service ace for a pretty solid all around day.
“I need to go out and have more consistency point to point,” said Cicala when asked what she needs to do to try and help tip the score back in favor of the Eagles.
Despite playing at home, the crowd of 173 seemed to favor Colgate and made the match more of an away game for the Eagles.
“I don’t think it influenced our side,” said Cicala. “But it definitely may have motivated them.”
The Eagles will travel to Annapolis to face Navy on Oct. 9 and then will return to Bender Arena to face non-league foe William and Mary on Oct. 13.
You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
