Colby	Russell

WATERVILLE, Maine -- Despite tough backrow defense, the Bates volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-15) decision to rival Bowdoin in a NESCAC match played Saturday at Colby.

Bowdoin improves to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Bates drops to 2-5, 0-2.

Bates senior captain Rachel Colby (Willimantic, Conn.) led the team in kills (5) and digs (11). Sophomore Nicole Russell (Boca Raton, Fla.) also posted double-digit digs with 10 to go with four kills. Junior Chrissy Gee (San Francisco, Calif.) had four kills and eight digs, while junior Grace Haessler (Portland, Ore.) had 13 assists along with seven digs.

The Bobcats travel to the NYU Invitational next weekend in New York, for four matches in two days. They'll play CCNY on Friday at 6 p.m. and the host Violets at 8 p.m.

BATES STATS: Bowdoin 3, Bates 0