HAMILTON, N.Y. — The No. 1 Colgate Raiders were crowned the 2023 Patriot League Volleyball Champions for the third-straight year after defeating No. 3 American, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, N.Y.
The Raiders earned their eighth overall Patriot League title and fourth under head coach Ryan Baker.
Colgate senior libero Taylor Cigna was named the Tournament MVP, while junior middle blocker Greta Hoogstra and freshman outside hitter Frances Torres joined Cigna on the all-tournament squad.
American graduate student middle blocker Carlie Fikse and graduate student outside hitter Zeynep Uzen were selected to represent the Eagles on the all-tournament squad.
Army West Point senior middle blocker Paige Fixemer and Navy sophomore outside hitter Ava Toppin round out the seven-member all-tournament squad.
The Raiders earned the Patriot League’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2023 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship. They will learn their first-round opponent when the NCAA Selection Show reveals the field on Sunday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Patriot League Notes
* With 19 kills today, Zeynep Uzen is in sole possession of second place in the Patriot League record book in career kills (1,729).
* Colgate is the second team in Patriot League volleyball history to win three straight titles. American won eight in a row from 2001-2008 and five in a row from 2013-2017.
* Colgate is 3-5 against American in Patriot League championship matches and 32-18 in the League’s postseason.
*The Patriot League Volleyball Championship match has featured either American or Colgate in 32 of the 34 years.
* American has made 21 appearances in the championship match in 23 years as a member of the Patriot League.
2023 Patriot League Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Taylor Cigna, Colgate, Sr., L – MVP
Greta Hoogstra, Colgate, JR., MB
Frances Torres, Colgate, Fr., OH/RS
Carlie Fikse, American, Gr., MB
Zeynep Uzen, American, Gr., OH
Paige Fixemer, Army West Point, Sr., MB
Ava Toppin, Navy, So., OH
at No. 1 Colgate Raiders (22-7, 13-3 PL) 3, No. 3 American Eagles (20-11, 11-5 PL) 0
Box Score
Hamilton, N.Y. – Colgate claimed its third-straight Patriot League Championship title with a 3-0 win over No. 3 American on Sunday afternoon.
* Tournament MVP, Colgate senior libero Taylor Cigna finished with 17 digs, two assists and two aces.
* Freshmen Milan Bayless and Frances Torres contributed double-digits in kills with 13 and 12, respectively.
* Colgate freshman setter Claire Dewine had 21 assists, while junior setter Sydney Jones registered 18 assists.
* Fifth-year middle blocker Sophie Thompson had six block assists and one solo block, while junior middle blocker Greta Hoogstra tallied four block assists and two solo blocks.
* The Eagles were led by graduate student Zeynep Uzen, who finished with 19 kills and eight digs to go with a .298 hitting percentage for her 14th double-double of the season.
* American junior defensive specialist Bridget Javitch led all players with 19 digs.
* Patriot League Setter of the Year American junior Esma Sipahi recorded 35 assists.
Recaps: American |
Colgate
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.