Senior libero Emily Witz served up three aces and tallied 20 digs but the Lake Forest College volleyball team was defeated 22-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-15 at Elmhurst College Tuesday night.
While Witz led the visitors in digs, senior outside hitter Grace Larson also reached double figures with 11, matching her team-high total for kills. It was her fourth double-double in five contests this season.
Junior setter and right side hitter Olivia Rhodes finished with a season-high 10 kills and 20 assists, leading the Foresters in the latter category. Additional team-highs included sophomore middle blocker Isabel Donnelly's five blocks and sophomore setter Hannah Nauert's four aces.
The first point of the night was the result of a Larson kill and Lake Forest led by as many as five early in the opening set. The Bluejays came back to tie the score at 14 and the set was knotted again at 20 before three consecutive attack error by the home team gave the Foresters a 23-20 advantage. Moments later a kill by Donnelly gave the visitors the early one-set lead.
Larson started set two with a kill as well but Elmhurst earned the next four points and led the rest of the way. Lake Forest closed to within two at 14-12 but got no closer.
The third set began much like the second. The Bluejays responded to a kill by Larson with five points to grab a 5-1 advantage. The Foresters then rattled off four in a row to tie the score but were never able to pull ahead. After falling behind 19-13, Lake Forest used another four-point run to pull to within two. The visitors battled back again later on, finally tying the score at 22, but dropped the next three points and the set.
A kill by Larson started set four as well, which remained extremely close until a nine-point run by Elmhurst made the score 23-13. The teams traded points the rest of the way and the Bluejays finished off their first victory in five matches this season. Lake Forest fell to 2-3.
The Foresters will play four more times this weekend at the Associated College of the Midwest Tournament, which will be hosted by Lawrence University. Lake Forest's opponents on Saturday are Luther College and Carleton College and Sunday's foes will be St. Olaf College and Macalester College.