Liz Leberman '10 (right) rises for the block while Beth Billington '09 gets into position at Wednesday night's match.

LEWISTON, Maine -- Colby College and Bates College played a NESCAC volleyball match befitting the close nature of their rivalry Wednesday night at Alumni Gymnasium, with Colby emerging as 3-2 winners on game scores of 29-31, 30-28, 30-22, 28-30 and 16-14.

Bates (5-19, 0-7 NESCAC) sophomore Elise Edmonson (Crystal Lake, Ill.) was an all-around standout for the Bobcats with 15 kills, 25 digs, 24 assists and four service aces. Sophomore Liz Leberman (Concord, N.H.) added 15 kills and 22 digs, while senior Brittany Clement (Gobles, Mich.) added 17 digs, 23 assists and four aces, and sophomore Brit Johnston (Winter Park, Colo.) came up with a match-high 27 digs.

Bates junior Beth Billington (St. Paul, Minn.) had a match-high seven blocks, while senior Jenn Linton (West Redding, Conn.) added sox and sophomore Avery Masters (Mill Valley, Calif.) turned in four.

Colby (11-17, 2-6 NESCAC) received a match-high 23 kills from junior Meredith Lawler (Lynnfield, Mass.), as well as 51 assists from junior Jenny Lawrence (Lafayette, Calif.) and five blocks by sophomore Larissa Levine (Potomac, Md.). Senior Jessie Prentice (New York, N.Y.) and junior Carlie Minichino (Stratford, Conn.) collected 23 and 22 digs, respectively.

Bates will travel later this week to the University of Dallas Volleyball Festival, where the Bobcats will face Sul Ross State and Dallas on Friday.

STATS: Colby 3, Bates 2