Nov. 9, 2007

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. - It was a competitive, back-and-forth battle but despite a strong effort, the Lafayette women's volleyball team could not overcome a strong Navy squad. The Leopards dropped a 3-1 decision to their Patriot League opponent on Friday night.

One highlight of the night, however, was senior Michaela Donohue's performance. The Los Gatos, Calif. native had 21 digs to become the Patriot League's all-time career digs leader. Entering tonight's match, she needed just 10 to tie for the lead and she now has 1,599 for her career, including a team-best 422 this season.

Freshman Kayly Elmer led the team with 20 kills against the Midshipmen while classmate Katrina Racibarskas added 11. Sophomore Kari Horn was just behind Donohue with 20 digs while junior Megan Carter led the Leopards with 45 assists.

Both teams traded leads for the first game as neither could take a commanding lead for the first half of play. Navy did take a four point lead at 20-16, the largest lead of the match for either team, but Lafayette chipped into that lead and tied the game at 28 after an attacking error by Navy's Rachel Dougherty. The Midshipmen would go on to score the final two points to win the first game 30-28.

Navy held a 10-5 lead early in the second game but Lafayette put the pressure on the Midshipmen and held a two-point edge at 17-15. Navy retook the lead and upped that lead to three points at 22-19. Lafayette responded by mounting a comeback to take a 27-26 lead late in the game after another attacking error by Dougherty. The game was later tied at 28 but the Leopards scored the final two points to win the game. The game winner came on a kill by Elmer.

The third game was a repeat of the first two, as Lafayette and Navy continued to exchange leads. The Midshipmen held an early 4-1 edge but the Leopards tied the game at eight on a kill by Racibarskas. Both squads found the score tied again at 17. A kill by Dougherty put the Midshipmen ahead at 18-17 and this time they would hold onto that lead. Navy held a game-high 27-22 advantage before closing out the 30-26 win on a kill by Dougherty.

The fourth and final game again saw lead changes and ties throughout. Navy held a brief 14-12 lead before the Leopards tied the game 18 after an attacking error by Navy's Alexa Gibbs. The Midshipmen held a one-point edge at 21-20 but another attacking error by Dougherty found the teams knotted at 21. Navy would go ahead for good on a kill by Krista Eschelman and held on for an eventual 30-27 win.

The Leopards conclude their regular season tomorrow afternoon with a match against Patriot League opponent American at 2 p.m. The team's three seniors will be honored prior to the start of the match.