Foresters Fall in Four to St. Norbert

Photo by Tianna Beilke
Photo by Tianna Beilke

Junior Isabel Donnelly led the home team with 11 kills and three blocks Friday night as Lake Forest was defeated 13-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-18 by visiting St. Norbert College.

Donnelly added seven digs and posted a .318 hitting percentage on the night. It was the ninth time this season she recorded at least 10 kills.

Fellow junior Olivia Drevs and freshman Haley Bryant were next on the team nine kills apiece and junior Olivia Smith finished with eight. 

Freshman Izzi Visnjevac led four Foresters in double figures in digs with 19. Junior Hannah Nauert added 14, senior Olivia Rhodes 13, and senior Allison Trutna 11.

Nauert tallied a team-high 24 assists while Nauert registered 19.

After the visitors won the first point of the night, Lake Forest took the next three and led throughout the opening set. Visnjevac closed it out with the Foresters' only ace of the match.

The home team trailed by as many as 11 points in set two but battled back to within four before the Green Knights finished it off.

St. Norbert won the first three points and maintained a lead throughout the third set as well. The Foresters closed to within two several times, the last at 20-18, but were unable to complete the comeback.

Lake Forest led 10-8 in set four before a 6-0 run by the Knights gave them the lead for good. The Foresters pulled to within a point at 16-15 before the visitors took seven of the next eight points to put the set and the match out of reach.

The loss dropped the Foresters' overall record on the season to 10-13 and, at 3-4 in Midwest Conference play, the team has been eliminated from contention for a spot in the four-team MWC Tournament. St. Norbert is now 21-7 overall and, at 7-1 in the league, has secured a berth in the postseason tournament.

Lake Forest will host Lawrence University Saturday afternoon at 1:00. It ill be the final home match for Rhodes, Trutna, and fellow seniors Anna Denslow, Hannah Hornacek, and Emily Mosher.