The Lake Forest College volleyball team was edged out 25-16, 23-25, 22-25, 28-26, 17-15 by Maranatha Baptist University and defeated 25-21, 25-17, 25-17 by host Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday. Freshman outside hitter Grace Larson led the Foresters with a career-high 16 kills in their first match of the day.
In addition to Larson, senior right side hitter Bailey Everhart and junior outside hitter Paige Jespersen also reached double figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Lexi Kleva tallied 33 assists and classmate Tori Tinman added a dozen. Senior libero Brianne Honda and junior defensive specialist Briahne Havis registered seaso-highs with 22 and 14 digs, respectively, and Jespersen chipped in with 15 for her seventh double-double of the year. Junior middle blocker Brittany Avonts was part of eight of the team's 12 blocks.
Lake Forest won the first two points of the match but only two of the next 12. A 7-1 run by Maranatha Baptist later in the set extended its lead to eight points and the Sabercats led by at least five the rest of the way.
The Foresters led by as many as six points in set two but an 11-5 run by Maranatha Baptist evened the score at 20. Tied at 21, Lake Forest earned the next two points and alternated serves the rest of the set.
Trailing 18-13 in set three, Lake Forest won 12 of the next 16 points, including five in a row at one point, to take the set and the lead in the match.
The Foresters led 23-20 in set four but lost eight of the next 11 points and the set.
Maratha Baptist rattled off five straight points to start the fifth set but the Foresters closed to within one at 5-4 and again at 8-7. The Sabercats then won seven of the next eight points and the match to improve to 6-5 on the year.
Everhart led Lake Forest with nine kills against Concordia Wisconsin. Kleva tallied 13 assists and Jespersen a team-high 10 digs.
Set one was tide at 12 before the Falcons won five of six points. Lake Forest pulled to within two points four times but could get no closer.
Concordia Wisconsin jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the second set and continued to pull away from there. The Foresters fought off five set points before the Falcons closed it out.
A five-point run in set three game the Falcons a 17-9 advantage and they led by at least six points the rest of the way. Concordia Wisconsin improved to 8-3 on the season.
Lake Forest is now 3-11 overall on the year and will begin Midwest Conference play next weekend. The Foresters will play at Knox College Friday night at 7:00 and at Monmouth College Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
