No. 3 Trojans Dominate Day One in Midland

MIDLAND, Texas  — The No. 3-ranked Colby Community College volleyball team starts the season strong with dominant three-set sweeps over the Lee College Navigators and Midland College Chaps at the Midland Kick-Off Classic today. (Aug. 22).

The Trojans wasted no time setting the tone in the opening frame. Sophomore Karlotta Kattai struck first with a kill off a set from Amanda Caputi, sparking early momentum. Colby built a 15-8 lead behind an ace from Anita Ferri, a double block by Kattai and Chiara Binda, and steady offensive production across the front line. Kami Cowdrey and Silvia Lopez Cuesta added late kills and an ace to close out a 25-16 first-set victory.

Set two proved more competitive as Lee College responded with a 6-0 run to grab a 7-6 lead. The Trojans answered with clutch plays, including kills from Ella Dridi, a perfectly placed ace by Caputi, and a string of points from Lena Mihaljica, who made an immediate impact off the bench. Down the stretch, Binda and Kattai came up big with key kills, and Mihaljica sealed the set at 25-22 off a Caputi assist.

In the third set, Colby's balanced attack overwhelmed the Navigators. Kattai opened again with a kill and was joined by Mihaljica and Isabella Martins, who each delivered at the net. Binda and Mihaljica also sparked a service run, with Mihaljica recording back-to-back aces to push the lead to 16-8. From there, the Trojans never looked back, cruising to a 25-14 win to secure the sweep.

Kattai led the charge with a series of powerful kills across all three sets, while Mihaljica provided a crucial spark in the second and third frames. Caputi directed the offense with precision, adding both assists and timely aces, while the Trojans' blocking presence and depth proved too much for Lee College.

Next game against the host Midland College was a battle from start to finish. After falling behind 9-5, the Trojans clawed their way back behind a series of kills from Lena Mihaljica and Isabella Martins to tie the score at 14. Colby grabbed its first lead at 20-19 following a Midland service error, and down the stretch it was Mihaljica who sealed the deal. After a Karlotta Kattai kill forced set point, Mihaljica hammered home the final kill to clinch the frame 26-24.

In the second set, Colby looked much more in rhythm. Early blocks from Martins and Ella Dridi energized the Trojans, while setter Amanda Caputi connected repeatedly with Kattai for momentum-shifting kills. Colby's diverse offensive attack kept Midland guessing, and the Trojans pulled away for a convincing 25-19 win to take a two-set lead.

Midland pushed back in the third, trading points with Colby deep into the set. Caputi sparked the Trojans with a dump kill and a key block to keep the match tied, while Mihaljica added a clutch cross-court shot to regain a late edge at 20-18. With Colby holding match point at 24-22, Chiara Binda delivered a thunderous kill to close out the sweep, 25-22.

Kattai and Mihaljica anchored the offense with timely kills throughout the night, while Caputi showcased her versatility with assists, blocks, and a pair of well-timed attacks. The Trojans' depth and composure in tight moments once again highlighted why they hold the highest ranking in program history.

Colby (2-0) continues play at the Midland Kick-Off Classic on Saturday (Aug. 23) with two more matches at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.