Oct. 30, 2009

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EASTON, Pa. - The nearly 1,000 fans who came out to see a spirited, competitive volleyball match between archrivals Lafayette and Lehigh got that and more, but unfortunately the Leopards could not hold off the Mountain Hawks and lost a 3-2 decision.

Friday evening was also Lafayette's "Dig Pink" night as the team worked to raise support for breast cancer research. The school's pep band made an appearance, as did the Lafayette Leopard and donations were collected throughout the night.

Lafayette lost 22-25, 25-21, 27-25, 16-25 and 6-15. Three Lafayette players reached double-digit kill totals, as junior Kayly Elmer and sophomore Alana Taylor added 13 apiece and junior Katrina Racibarskas finished with 11. Taylor also added six blocks (three assisted, three solo) and six different players had at least one service ace.

The Leopards (12-11, 3-7) dropped the first set before rebounding to take the next two but they could not finish off the Mountain Hawks (12-13, 5-5) who captured the final two sets.

The first set was one of many close ones as it remained a tie game (18-18) late in the action but Lehigh put the set away on a kill from Angelika Kopacz, who finished with a match-high 16 kills.

The Leopards came back to win the next two sets. The four-point margin of victory in the second set was a bit misleading, as the Leopards never trailed. The third set saw the leads change hands several times but a block assist from Taylor and Cara Mulholland put Lehigh away and gave Lafayette a 2-1 advantage in the match.

Lehigh took back the momentum in the next set, as the team never let Lafayette take a lead and clinched a 25-16 win on a service ace.

The Mountain Hawks' momentum carried through into the fifth set as they went on to the quick 15-6 victory to grab their fifth league win of the fall.

Lafayette hosts its final two home matches of the regular season next weekend when the team faces Colgate on Friday at 7 p.m. and Bucknell on Saturday at 4 p.m. Saturday's game is also Senior Day for the program.