The Colgate volleyball team began the 2004 season with a trip to Alaska to play in the Nanook Classic, hosted by the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The Raiders dropped their first two matches, but rebounded to defeat the University of Missouri-Kansas City in five games.The Raiders started the match with UMKC off right by winning the first two games, 30-26 and 31-29, respectively. UMKC then returned the favor with consecutive wins by scores of 30-24 and 30-18 to force a decisive fifth game. UMKC continued its momentum, jumping out to an 8-4 lead, but Colgate came storming back, going on an 11-1 run to take the game and the match.Junior Allie Nichols had a terrific tournament for the Raiders. She tied for the tournament lead with seven service aces and ranked fourth with 70 assists. Against UMKC, Nichols had a team-leading 34 assists, along with 12 kills, two block attempts and seven digs. Nichols’ efforts earned her a place on the all-tournament team.Other Raiders also had great games against UMKC. Senior co-captain Laurel Oliver recorded a team-high 14 kills, as well as nine digs and two block attempts. Fellow senior co-captain Meghaan Walsh had eight kills, seven assists and nine digs. First-year Erin Kanetzke had her first career double-digit kills game with 11, to go along with three service aces, nine digs and seven assists.Colgate began the tournament with a loss to UAF in three games, 30-18, 30-11 and 30-26. Oliver led the Raiders with nine kills, while Nichols had 19 assists and two aces. Walsh and sophomore Marybeth Maziarz had four kills apiece. Maziarz also recording three blocks in the loss.In its next match, Colgate was again swept, this time by Sacramento State, 30-18, 30-19 and 30-17. Maziarz had a team-leading nine kills, while Nichols served up three aces to go along with 17 assists.The Raiders will be home at Cotterell Court as they host the Colgate Invitational this weekend. The team faces Hartford today at 5 p.m., and plays two games tomorrow, Quinnipiac at 12:30 p.m. and Canisius at 5:30 p.m. On Tuesday night, the Raiders host Syracuse at 7:00.