The Forester volleyball team was edged out 25-23, 25-23, 24-26, 25-20 by visiting Monmouth College on Saturday.
Sophomore Mary Gegen led led all players in the contest with a career-high 23 kills, matching the third-highest four-set total in program history. She also had three blocks, an ace, and a .304 hitting percentage on the afternoon. Freshman Rebekkah De Kok was next on the team with nine kills.
Junior libero Izzi Visnjevac finished with a match-high 19 digs while freshman setter tallied 34 assists and 11 digs. Senior Kaity Mueller also reached double figures in digs with 10.
The Fighting Scots led the opening set 12-8 before three straight points by the Foresters. The margin was no more than two the rest of the way with the last two points and the set going to the visitors.
Set two was also close throughout, with neither team leading by more than two until Monmouth broke a 19-19 tie with three in a row. The Foresters came back and tied the score at 23 before back-to-back points by the Scots gave them a two-set lead.
The Foresters trailed by four early in set three and were facing a 21-18 deficit later on. They won six of the next seven points before Monmouth came back and tied the score at 24. The home team took the next two points, including a kill by Gegen to close out the set.
Lake Forest's last lead of the day was 16-15 in set four. Monmouth won nine of the next 11 points to seize control of the set and eventually finished it off.
The Foresters are now 5-13 overall this season and 1-1 in Midwest Conference play. Monmouth improved to 8-9 overall and 1-2 in the league.
Lake Forest will host another conference contest against Lawrence University Tuesday night at 7:00.