A solid win over Hamilton College in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play last Saturday has left the Colby College volleyball team with a perfect 5-0 record to start the season. This was the Mules first win against Hamilton since 2005, making Saturday’s game a performance to remember.   The win was facilitated by the great play of Lily Kramlich-Taylor ’14 as well as contributions from Natalie Roy ’16 and Kate Bellerose ’14. Kramlich-Taylor was perfect in terms of kills through the first set and finished with a total of 13 to add on to her three blocks. Roy added 11 kills and 26 digs while Bellerose totaled 12 kills.

Colby’s play was also greatly aided by the skills of setter Kate Pleasants ’14 and captain Maggie Taylor ’13. Pleasants had 38 assists, 18 digs, five kills and three aces. Taylor chipped in seven kills, 17 digs, three aces, and two blocks. The Mules also received 22 digs from Emily Varni ’13, who last week at the Colby Invitational tied for the team high of 15 digs. Ellie Linden ’14 contributed 14 digs, and Kim Donaldson ’16 added eight kills and two blocks to her season totals.

On the other side of the net, the Continentals were lead by Brenna Corrigan ’14 and her 16 kills to match her 21 digs. Blaire Frett ’16 contributed 13 kills and four blocks, Anna Brown ’15 had 20 digs and Emma Lonadier ’15 ended up with 25 assists.

After Saturday’s game it is safe to say that the Mules, who finished 11-15 last season and made it to the NESCAC playoffs before being eliminated by Bowdoin, are focused and prepared to chase an improved record as well as improved performances. The win was the Mules’ first conference victory of the season. Colby hopes to use the win to gain momentum going into a huge showdown with rival Bowdoin on Wednesday, September 19 at 7 p.m. The game will not count towards NESCAC standings and seeding as it is not an official conference game, but it will provide an interesting preview for the second matchup between the two on October 5, which will be official.

On Friday and Saturday, the women will take on Simmons College, Wellsley College and Smith College as part of the M.I.T. Invitational tournament in Beverly and Boston, Mass.