Courtesy of Colgate University Communications

NCAA DI WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT BRACKET

HAMILTON – The NCAA released its 64-team field for the Division I Women's Volleyball Championship and Colgate will meet Kansas in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET

Colgate (19-12, 14-2 Patriot) captured its fourth consecutive Patriot League championship under 19th-year head coach Ryan Baker. The Raiders, who secured their fourth regular season title in as many years, bested Lehigh 3-1 in the semifinals and battled back to defeat Army 3-2 in a five-set title marathon. 

Senior Abby Shadwick was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP after posting 41 kills (4.56 kps) and a .316 hitting percentage to go with four service aces, 24 digs (2.67 dps), and five total blocks. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by fifth-year senior Taylor Cigna and sophomore Frances Torres.

The Raiders are led by sophomore Milan Bayless, who became the first sophomore to earn Patriot League Player of the Year honors since 2016. Bayless leads the team in kills (333), averaging 3.26 kills per frame along with a .250 hitting percentage. Shadwick and Bayless were both All-League First Team honorees.

Colgate is making its eighth NCAA tournament appearance and fifth since Baker took the helm in 2012. The Raiders carry a seven-match win streak into their tourney bout with Kansas, which will be the second meeting between the two teams this year. The Jayhawks bested the Raiders 3-0 on Sept. 1 in Durham, N.C. 

The Raiders are 3-9 all-time against current members of the Big 12, with their most recent win coming last season in a 3-2 victory over West Virginia at Cotterell Court. Colgate faced two teams from the conference in 2024 – Kansas and Iowa State. 

Friday's winner will play the winner of Florida-NC State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.