Freshman middle blocker Isabel Donnelly had three blocks, seven kills, and three aces but the Lake Forest College volleyball team was defeated 16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16 by Illinois Institute of Technology Tuesday night.
With 13 points, Donnelly reached double figures for the fifth time in the last eight matches. She is averaging 10.5 points per contest during that span.
Freshman outside hitter Olivia Grimmer led the home team on Tuesday with 10 kills. Junior libero Emily Witz had a team-high 15 digs while fellow freshman outside hitter Olivia Smith and sophomore right side hitter Hannah Hornacek added 10 apiece. Senior middle blocker Maxie Mottlowitz edged out Donnelly for the team lead in kills with four and freshman setter Hannah Nauert tallied 28 assists.
The Foresters trailed just once in the opening set and responded to the 10-9 deficit with four straight points. Their lead was just three at 19-16 before they rattled off six straight points to close out the set. The final three came on aces by Donnelly.
Unfortunately for the home team, it would not lead again all night. Illinois Tech jumped out to a 7-1 lead and the margin grew to as many as nine points in set two. The visitors won the first four points of the third set and later led by eight at 20-12. Lake Forest pulled to within two at 21-19 before the Scarlet Hawks won the next three points and eventually took the set. The fourth and final set started with a 5-0 Illinois Tech run and the Foresters got no closer than three points the rest of the way.
The loss dropped Lake Forest's overall record on the season to 7-9 while Illinois Tech improved to 6-10.
The Foresters will begin Midwest Conference play against visiting Knox College Saturday afternoon at 1:00.
