NESCAC Championships
at Hartford, Conn.

Bates 3, Trinity 0

Bates (29-5)		15	15	15
Trinity (16-14)		 9      13      11

Bates (30-5)		 9	 9	15	15	15
Middlebury (19-7)	15	15      13      13	11

Bates (30-6)		12	14	 3
Amherst (25-6)	 	15      16      15

HAGSTROM NAMED NESCAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bobcats Fall In Conference Finals HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Bates College volleyball team's bid for the program's first NCAA tournament berth since 1993 fell just short, with the Bobcats losing the NESCAC championship match to top-seeded Amherst, 3-0.

The Bobcats opened the tournament in convincing fashion, defeating the host Trinity College Bantams (16-14) in three straight, 15-9, 15-13, 15-11. Senior co-captain Amanda Colby (Willimantic, Conn.) continued her outstanding net play, while team blocks leader Amanda Webb made a few crucial blocks at the net as well. The Bobcats avenged the first-round loss they suffered to Trinity last season.

The Bobcats nearly missed the finals altogether, surviving a five-game scare from two-time defending champions Middlebury in the semifinals. The Bobcats fell behind 9-15, 9-15, after two games. They rallied to win game three, 15-13, but were on the brink of elimination in game four, rallying from a 13-8 deficit to post another 15-13 win. Junior outside hitter Alex Hankovsky (Brooklyn, N.Y.) paced the Bobcats in the final rally-scoring game and the Bobcats advanced with a 15-11 win.

In the championship match, the Bobcats faced the only NESCAC team to defeat them this season in Amherst. After a tight first game that the Bobcats dropped, 12-15, they established a 7-2 lead in game two. The Lord Jeffs rallied, however, to take a 16-14 win and a commanding 2-0 lead. The Bobcats could not rally in game three, falling 3-15.

At the post-tournament awards ceremony, junior setter Kate Hagstrom (Portola, Calif.) was honored as the NESCAC Player of the Year. She and senior Amanda Colby (Willimantic, Conn.) were both named first-team All-NESCAC for the second year in a row, while sophomore Lauren Fennessey (Joplin, Mo.) was named Honorable Mention. Hagstrom also was named to the All-Tournament team for the eighth time this season. At 30-5, the Bobcats have their winningest season since 1993 and will find out about postseason play on either Sunday night or Monday.