Senior middle blocker Brittany Avonts led the Forester volleyball team with 10 kills and nine blocks but Lake Forest fell 19-25, 25-8, 25-1317-25, 17-15 at Illinois Institute of Technology Friday night.
Avonts committed just one attach error in 23 attempts and posted a .391 hitting percentage on the night. Junior right side hitter Natalie Olson was next on the team with eight kills and finished with a .389 hitting percentage. Junior setter Lexi Kleva recorded a career-high six blocks and finished with 30 assists and a dozen digs on the night.
Senior outside hitter Paige Jespersen led the visitors with 14 digs while freshman libero Anna Denslow and sophomore outside hitter Grace Larson also reached double figures with 11 apiece. Sophomore middle blocked Morgen Malte served up three of the Foresters' 10 aces.
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening set, Lake Forest won 12 of the next 14 points to take an eight-point lead. The Scarlet Hawks pulled back to within two at 14-12 but a 7-2 run by the Foresters put them back in control and they finished off the set 25-19.
Illinois Tech won the first eight points of set two and allowed Lake Forest to earn consecutive points just once while easily tying the match at one set apiece.
The home team jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the third set. After the Foresters pulled to within four at 12-8, the Hawks outscored them 13-5 the rest of the way.
With the fourth set tied at six, the visitors rattled off five straight points and led the rest of the way. Illinois Tech pulled to within three on multiple occasions but got no closer.
The Hawks won the first three points of set five but Lake Forest took seven of the next eight. The margin was no more than two points the rest of the way and there were eight ties during that span. The Foresters served for the match at 14-13 and fought off one set point at 15-14 before dropping back-to-back points and the match.
Lake Forest fell to 4-9 while Illinois Tech evened its record at 6-6.
The Foresters' next match will open Midwest Conference play next Friday night at 7:00 against visiting Ripon College.
