The Colby volleyball team ended their season with a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament at Trinity College this past weekend. This tournament was the last chance for the Mules to pick up a win in conference play, but strong performances from Trinity, Wesleyan University and Connecticut College left the Mules winless in the NESCAC.

Friday night, the Mules faced Trinity and were unable to take a set in their 3-0 loss. Colby fell by a score of 25-15, 25-18, 25-18. Caitlin Burchill '11 turned in an impressive performance with 16 digs and six kills. Teammate Heather Arvidson '11 added another six kills, while Lily Kramlich-Taylor '14 contributed five. Defensively, Emily Varni '13 supplied 14 digs, and Kramlich-Taylor pitched in with two blocks.

Saturday saw the Mules come within one set of securing a league win, only to be denied by a comeback by the Wesleyan Cardinals. After taking the first two sets by scores of 25-17 and 25-14, Colby was helpless to stop the Cardinal comeback, losing the next three 25-12, 25-16, 15-12. Kramlich-Taylor once again played a key role, finishing with 11 kills, five blocks and two aces in the game. Burchill chipped in another eight kills, while Mackie Sewell '12 added seven and Maggie Taylor '13 picked up six. Kate Pleasants '14 continued to impress in her role as the catalyst of the offense with her 31 assists, while also showing her defensive skills with 14 digs. Varni kept up her impressive defensive form with a team leading 20 digs, and captain Claire Reich '11 added 13 of her own.

In their last match of the season against Connecticut College, Colby once again fell in straight sets, 25-23, 25-15, 25-18. Kramlich-Taylor (seven kills) and Pleasants (15 assists) were the forces on offense. Defensively, Taylor had 15 digs and Reich had 12.  

Although the season ended with no conference wins, the young Colby team had a better season than their 0-10 NESCAC record suggests. Against non-conference opponents, Colby had more success, finishing the season with an overall record of 7-17. The Mules can also look happily at the performances of several of their younger players, specifically Pleasants, the team leader in assists, and Kramlich-Taylor, who finished in the top three in kills. With these young players proving their merit, Colby can look forward to a solid base for their team next season.