The Forester volleyball team posted a 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 victory at Monmouth College on Saturday. Junior middle blocker needed just 16 attempts to lead Lake Forest with 10 kills in the match.
Avonts did not commit an attack error on the afternoon and finished with a .625 hitting percentage. It was the third time this season and the 14th time in her career that she pounded out 10 or more kills with at least a .500 hitting percentage.
Junior outside hitter Paige Jespersen was next on the team with nine kills and freshman outside hitter Grace Larson added six.
Sophomore setter Lexi Kleva led the Forester with 19 assists, senior libero Brianne Honda with a dozen digs, sophomore middle blocker Rebecca Lynch with three blocks, and junior defensive specialist Briahna Havis with three aces. Havis also reached double figures with 10 digs.
Lake Forest trailed by as many as five in the opening set before coming back and tying the score at 18. The visitors needed a second chance at set point but closed it out on a kill by senior right side hitter Bailey Everhart.
The Foresters fell behind by three in the second set before winning 10 of 12 points to take a 19-14 lead. The Fighting Scots closed to within three at 19-16 and again at 21-18 before committing a ball-handling error and two attach errors. A kill by Larson closed it out on Lake Forest's second shot at set point.
After Monmouth started set three with an ace, the Foresters took the lead for good by winning nine of the next 10 points. The visitors eventually pulled ahead by 10 points at 24-14 and eventually clinched the match on a kill by Lynch.
Lake Forest is now 4-12 overall and 1-1 in Midwest Conference play this season. Monmouth fell to 6-9 overall and 1-1 in the league.
The Foresters will play a pair of Midwest Conference matches at home next weekend. The team will host Lawrence University Saturday night at 7:00 and St. Norbert College at 1:00 Saturday afternoon.
