LEWISTON, Maine -- Defending NESCAC champion Colby College defeated Bates College in straight games, 30-27, 30-18, 30-27, Wednesday at Alumni Gymnasium, handing the Bobcats their first loss this season in a non-league contest.

First-year Liz Leberman (Concord, N.H.) notched a match-high 18 digs for Bates. First-years Elise Edmonson (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and Tess Dokus (Salem, Conn.) shared the team lead in kills with five apiece, while senior setter Katie Graeff (Chevy Chase, Md.) tallied nine assists and five digs. Edmonson added seven service aces. First-year Brit Johnson (Winter Park, Colo.) and Kira Kramlich (San Francisco, Calif.) had nine and six digs, respectively.

Sophomore Meredith Lawler (Lynnfield, Mass.) led the Mules (3-1) with 15 kills and five service aces. Senior Julie Hike (Falmouth, Mass.) added 10 kills and three blocks. Senior Kendall Kirby (Piedmont, Calif.), junior Cassie Sancartier (Haverhill, Mass.) and sophomore Jenny Lawrence (Lafayette, Calif.) had 16, 15 and 14 digs, respectively.

Bates (4-1) next faces Williams on Friday at 8 p.m. at Bowdoin College. Colby will play Hamilton, also Friday at 8 p.m. at Bowdoin.

BOX SCORE: Colby 3, Bates 0