Only a couple days into the academic year, Colgate University’s volleyball team dominated the competition. After being picked as the preseason favorites in the Patriot League, the Raiders have certainly lived up to their title. The team started off strong on Aug. 22 with a 3-0 exhibition win against Binghamton University. While they lost their first match of the season 0-3 against Colorado State University, they quickly bounced back on Aug. 30 against University of Northern Colorado, winning 3-0 and showing how they are not just a force in their conference but are also establishing themselves on the national stage.
Being named the preseason no. 1 in the Patriot League was no surprise for the players. Rather, it reinforced what they were already certain about in the team. Senior outside hitter and libero Carlie Rzeszotarski understood the strength of the Raiders.
“I think we were expecting to be picked as number one in the preseason polls, so it didn’t change too much as far as our goals and training habits,” Rzeszotarski said.
Martinez emphasized how the accolade did not change the team’s determined outlook.
“Each year, our goal is the same: to bring home a Patriot League championship. Regardless of what the press or media say, we stay focused on putting our heads down, getting in the gym and working hard every single day,” Martinez said.
The team proved their resilience through their win over Big Ten powerhouse University of Washington, led by outside hitter Milan Bayless who scored 25.5 points in the match. Their early nonconference schedule has indicated that the Raiders will certainly be ready for a championship run.
Senior libero Rachael Martinez discussed the win.
“Winning a Big Ten match was certainly monumental for our program and for Colgate Athletics as a whole,” Martinez said. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to play such strong competition and to prove ourselves on that stage.”
Sophomore middle blocker Julia Headley echoed this same sentiment.
“I don’t really know how much it affected us because we expected it,” Headley said. “We’ve been at the top and know there is a target on our back, but regardless of preseason rankings, being number one is always our goal,” she added, recognizing the team’s hard work.
Following the Washington win, Colgate dropped back-to-back matches against Ball State University and University of South Dakota, losing 2-3 and 1-3, respectively.
“Nonconference play gives us a great opportunity to learn, grow and prepare for Patriot League matches,” Martinez said. “It’s a chance to build toughness, grit and chemistry, so that by the time conference season begins, we’re ready to compete as a united, confident team.”
The combination of tough opponents and close matches is helping ground the team coming into conference play, and it proves that the Raiders do not shy away from big-name opponents. Rzeszotarski understood Colgate’s perception as the underdog but realized the team can grow past it.
“We treat ‘bigger teams’ just as we would any other game. I think hyping these games up gives them too much weight and allows us to get distracted, so whether we’re playing the 300th ranked team in the country or the 20th, we have to go into the match with the same expectations,” Rzeszotarski said. “In a sense, playing bigger teams like Washington allows us to play more freely because we’re the underdog.”
The Raiders are continuing to work on their solidified goal throughout the season: a Patriot League title. The team is showing they have the talent to compete at the highest level, no matter the bumps in the road they’ve experienced early on.
This past weekend, the team put up two wins against Syracuse University, beating them 3-1 both at the home-opener and on Syracuse’s court. The season is still in its early stages, but the Raiders are confirming one thing: they’re chasing more than just the top spot in the Patriot League.
