The Lake Forest College volleyball team began Midwest Conference play with a 23-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-16 victory at Ripon College Friday night.
Four Foresters reached double figures in kills on the evening. Sophomore Mary Gegen led the way with 15 and was followed by junior Madison Stevens with a career-high-tying 12. Freshman Rebekkah De Kok and senior Hannah Kobienia added 10 apiece with Kobienia's total representing a career high.
There were also four Lake Forest players in double figures in digs, led by junior Izzi Visnjevac, who matched her career high with 33. Freshman setter Juli Barrientos added 18 while Gegen and De Kok completed double-doubles with 15 and 14, respectively.
Barrientos also finished with a career-high 39 assists.
De Kok led the visitors with three aces and Kobienia with four blocks.
Set one was close throughout, with 11 ties and neither team leading by more than four points. Lake Forest was ahead 22-21 before dropping four of five points and the set.
The Foresters won the first four points of the second set but later trailed by four at 11-7 and 18-14. The home team led 20-18 when Lake Forest rattled off five straight points and eventually won the set.
Two of De Kok's aces and three of Kobienia's blocks came came during an 8-0 Forester run to begin set three. The Red Hawks closed to within four at 13-9 and again at 15-11 before the visitors won 10 of the next 12 points to take the set.
A 4-3 advantage was Ripon's only lead of the fourth and final set. Lake Forest won the next five points and kept the Red Hawks at arm's length the rest of the way. A kill by Barrientos finished off the contest.
It was the first league match of the season for both teams. The Foresters are now 4-12 overall while Ripon fell to 8-11.
Lake Forest will host Monmouth College for Homecoming Saturday afternoon at 2:00.
