The Forester volleyball team was edged out 16-25, 25-23, 25-17, 24-26, 15-10 at Knox College Friday night in the Midwest Conference opener for both programs. Junior outside hitter Paige Jespersen led Lake Forest with a career-high 23 digs while senior libero Brianne Honda added 22.
Jespersen also finished with 11 kills for her eighth double-double of the season. Freshman outside hitter Grace Larson matched Jespersen's kill total while posting a .360 hitting percentage for the match. Junior middle blocker Brittany Avonts led the squad with 15 kills and six blocks, including three solos. Sophomore setter Lexi Kleva talled 28 of the team's 52 assists on the night.
The Foresters never trailed in the opening set and, already ahead 10-8, used a 13-4 run to pull away. The visitors had 15 kills and just one error and a .583 hitting percentage in the set.
After Knox won the first point of set two, Lake Forest took the next 10 and what appeared to be a commanding lead. The Prairie Fire, however, came back to tie the score at 16 and briefly led 18-17. Trailing 22-21, the home team won four of the next five points and the set.
Knox jumped out to a 15-2 lead in the third set. Lake Forest won 11 of the next 13 points to close to within four but would get no closer.
Trailing 24-23 and facing match point in the fourth set, a kill by Avonts tied the score and her back-to-back aces knotted the contest at two sets apiece.
The Prairie Fire won the first three points in the fifth and deciding set and Lake Forest was unable to get any closer than two points the rest of the way.
The loss dropped the Foresters' overall record to 3-12 while Knox inproved to 6-10.
Lake Forest will continue league play at Monmouth College Saturday afternoon at 1:00.