Knoxville, Tenn. -- The Morehead State volleyball team got off to a slow start and battled through five sets ultimately falling to Colgate 3-2 (14-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 9-15) Saturday in Thompson Boling Arena in the Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.
 
Morehead State (1-2) was led by seniors Hollan Everett and Amelia Nott who finished with 17 kills apiece, tied for match honors.
 
"There were moments when we played well," said Morehead State head coach Kyrsten Becker-McBride. "There were times when we were able to get them out of system and that really helped. Credit to our first contact that we got 38 swings to our middle. It's no secret that we want to set Amelia and that opens up things on the pins as well."
 
"Overall, I thought Amelia and Hollan attacked really well," added Becker-McBride. "I also thought we passed really well overall."
 
Freshman Ella Warrick posted her second career double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs.
 
"Ella is figuring out some of the college blocking schemes," added Becker-McBride. "To be a six-rotation outside in your first weekend of college volleyball, that's incredibly tough. Today she passed really well and did some of the little things well. I'm excited to see where she continues to go."
 
Colgate (1-2) was led by Julia Headley with 17 kills and posting a .577 hitting percentage. Aubrey Anders and Tiana Owens added 15 kills apiece for the Raiders.
 
Morehead State opened the match with a three-point run which was answered by Colgate. Another immediate three-point run by the Eagles was again answered by the Raiders. A Raider four-point run put Colgate ahead 16-11. The Raiders closed out the set outscoring the Eagles 7-1.
 
After Morehead State scored the first point in the second set, Colgate ran off three-straight points and continued to lead until an Eagle three-point run capped by an ace by Amelia Nott even the score at 11-11.  With Colgate holding a 13-12 lead, the Eagles ran off eight straight points highlighted by aces from Tinsley Brown and Courtney Fitzgerald and two blocks up front and capped by a kill from Nott to put the Eagles on top 20-14.
 
Colgate responded with a five-point run to cut the lead to 22-21, before Everett ended the Raider rally with a blast up the line. The Eagles closed out the set with an Everett kill and a Colgate service error. Everett and Nott led the Eagle attack with six and five kills, respectively in the set. MSU hit .382 in the frame.
 
The Eagles opened set three with a 3-0 run. Later in the set, Morehead State went on a 6-2 run led by Nott's three kills and a service ace in the rotation to take a 17-9 lead. Later, a Colgate three-point run cut the MSU lead to 20-16, but the Raiders could get no closer than three points and the Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the fourth set. Both front rows were stout in the frame: Colgate posted four blocks in the frame and Morehead State turned away three. MSU was held to a .119 hitting percentage and Colgate was held to an .056 attack efficiency.
 
The fourth set was closely contested early. Morehead used a four-point run to gain some separation at 10-6. Colgate responded with a 6-1 run to even the score at 11-11. The Raiders gained their first lead of the set at 14-13. Colgate ran off seven straight points, the run highlighted by four straight service aces by setter Reagan Knipling, to take a 22-15 advantage.
 
Morehead State rallied with a 6-1 run highlighted by a Fitzgerald ace and two kills by Warrick to cut the lead to 23-21. The Eagles turned away two set points before Colgate closed out the set with a kill by Headley. Warrick paced the Eagle attack with seven kills in the frame.
 
Morehead State returns to action next weekend when they travel to Erie, Pa., to play in the Mercyhurst Invitational, Presented by Scott Enterprises. The Eagles will take on the host Mercyhurst Lakers Friday at 1:00 p.m. ET. Friday at 4:00 p.m. ET, Morehead State will take on Cleveland State and will wrap up the weekend Saturday against Sienna. First serve Saturday is set for 11:00 a.m. ET.
 
NOTABLE

• Morehead State totaled 56 kills, hitting .191. Colgate was credited with 64 kills and posted a .236 attack percentage.
• Both teams posted seven service aces. Nott and Courtney Fitzgerald led the Eagles with three each. Colgate was led by Kipling with four.
• MSU posted nine blocks, led by Haiden Carter with five (one solo). Colgate finished with eight total blocks.
• Courtney Fitzgerald led Morehead State with 22 digs. Colgate had an 85-76 advantage in digs.
• With four blocks in the game, Amelia Nott passed Holly Evans (2008-10) for seventh in the Morehead State record for career total blocks in the modern era. She has 298 total blocks as an Eagle.