Sophomore Olivia Smith pounded out a career-high 18 kills but the Lake Forest College volleyball team was defeated 25-20, 202-25, 25-20, 25-23 at Monmouth College Friday night.
Smith was just one of three Foresters to reach double figures in kills, joining fellow sophomores Olivia Drevs and Isabel Donnelly, who finished with 12 and 11, respectively. Drevs also recorded 11 digs in the match for her second career double-double. Additional team-highs included 39 assists from junior Olivia Rhodes, a dozen digs from senior Emily Witz, and senior Morgen Malte's three blocks.
Lake Forest finished the night with 52 kills to the Fighting Scots' 40 but committed 31 attack errors and 15 service errors. Monmouth had just 26 in those two categories combined.
Neither squad led by more than three points in the opening set until the Scots broke a 16-16 tie with a 6-1 run. The teams traded points the rest of the way.
Set two was tied 14 times, the last at 18-18, before the Foresters won five straight points. After Monmouth closed to within three at 23-20, a kill by Smith and a bad set from the home team finished off the set.
There were 11 ties in the third set and the Scots' lead was just one at 20-19 before they won six of the next seven points and the set.
Lake Forest led by as many as four points in the fourth set and was later ahead 22-20. Monmouth, however, took the next four points and was eventually successful on its second match point opportunity.
The Foresters are now 10-14 overall this season and 3-3 in Midwest Conference play. Monmouth improved to 12-14 overall and 1-6 in the league.
Lake Forest will be in action again Saturday afternoon at 1:00 at Illinois College.