NEW LONDON, N.H. -- Bates College earned victories in both of its contests Saturday as the Bobcats blanked both Emmanuel College and host Colby-Sawyer College by scores of 3-0 in a non-conference women's volleyball tri-match.

The opening match, which marked Bates' first competition vs. Emmanuel since Sept, 10, 2011, opened with a Bobcat victory of 25-20 in the initial set. The garnet and white rattled off runs of 5-0 and 6-0 in the frame en route to the 1-0 match advantage. The Bobcats kicked off set two with a 4-0 surplus and increased the cushion to 13-2 after an impressive 9-0 push, and went on to win the stanza, 25-18. 

Bates bookended the third-and-final set with hot streaks, opening with a 5-0 lead and closing with a 9-0 run to seal the frame, 25-14, and the overall triumph.

Ami Evans topped all players with her nine kills for the Bobcats. Chrissy Chu authored her fifth double-double in the effort with 20 assists and 13 digs. Bates was lights out at the service line, landing 14 aces vs. the Saints (13-8). Eden Lorin led the way with four while Ellie Asada and Kate Hansen floored three apiece.

In the nightcap, the Bobcats escaped set one by outlasting Colby-Sawyer, 28-26. With the score knotted at 7-7, Bates took off on a 10-4 sprint to go up by six (17-11). The Chargers, not to be outdone, answered with a 12-5 blitz of its own to provide the home team a 23-22 lead. The visitors proceeded to grab the next two points to make it 24-23 Bobcats, but Colby-Sawyer staved off a set one setback by taking three of the next four points.

Now with Bates on the brink of defeat, the garnet and white rattled off an impressive 3-0 spurt to swipe the 1-0 match lead. The two squads would play another back-and forth frame in the second with the Bobcats earning a 25-21 win. Leading the Chargers by a score of 18-15 in the third, Bates proceeded to close out the match with a hearty 7-2 push and lock down its second win of the day.

Bates and Colby-Sawyer (5-18) last squared off a decade ago on Sept. 27, 2013. The Bobcats' previous tri-match sweep came last season when Bates defeated both Regis College and Smith College (Sept. 10, 2022) in Northampton, Mass.

Evans, with 10 kills and 10 digs, ended the day with the sophomore's fourth double-double of the season. Chu contributed her second double-double of the afternoon, this time with 27 assists and 11 digs. Asada topped all players with 15 digs. Bella Lomet put down a pair of solo blocks for the Bobcats.

Bates (6-14) now returns to NESCAC action this Friday with a visit to Amherst College. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m.