Nov. 11, 2006
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - A back-and-forth match eventually went Army's way, as the Black Knights took a 3-1 triumph away from Lafayette in Patriot League volleyball action on Saturday night. Kirby Sports Center served as the backdrop for senior night and what was the regular-season finale for both teams.
The match opened with each team taking a game by identical 30-28 scores, but it was Army (20-7, 10-3) gaining the edge in games three and four to steal the win. The Black Knights secured the second seed heading into next weekend's Patriot League Tournament, while Lafayette (18-9, 9-5) will play as the fourth seed.
The Leopards came out gunning in the opening session, breaking a 12-12 tie with four straight points, all served by sophomore setter Megan Carter. The Leopards took advantage of an Army error to cap the run with a 16-12 advantage, forcing the Black Knights into a timeout. The Leopards proceeded to score six of the ensuing seven points, a stretch highlighted by three kills from senior Veronica Canto-Ponce and another from classmate Katie Moore, to take a 22-13 lead. Army, however, clawed its way back into contention, scoring seven of the last nine points before a Canto-Ponce kill ended the threat.
Game two would play by a similar script, as the teams traded points in the early going. In a battle that featured 11 ties and five lead changes, Lafayette found itself clinging to a 28-27 late following a deep Canto-Ponce kill. Unfortunately, a pair of Lafayette errors and an ace for Army's Lauren Teal allowed Army to steal the 30-28 win.
The Black Knights opened a 14-9 lead midway through game three, but Lafayette responded with an 8-3 run, including a pair of Canto-Ponce kills and one from freshman Cara Mulholland, to knot the score at 17-all. The Leopards tied the game three more times and managed to take the lead twice, but the team could not overcome Army's serving consistency sealed the Leopards' fate in a 30-23 loss.
The Leopards hung with Army through the first third of a grueling game four, getting within two, 9-7, on an Army error. The Black Knights went on to score five unanswered points to go up 14-7, creating a deficit the Leopards could not recover from. Army collected the 30-22 win.
The Leopards got double-figure kills from three players on the night with Canto-Ponce's 17 leading the way. The right side hitter also posted a two solo blocks and as many assisted. Junior outside hitter Michaela Donohue managed her 10th double-double of the season with 10 kills and 11 digs. Carter added a team-high 14 digs to go with her 37 assists. In the final home game of her career, senior Shannon Fisher registered 10 kills and four block assists.
Lafayette is set to take on host and top-seeded American in the opening round of the Patriot League Tournament on Friday in Washington, D.C.
