Sept. 11, 2009
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette volleyball squad got the Crosstown Showdown Tournament started on the right foot with a 3-1 win over Niagara University on Friday night. Two Leopards had double-doubles to propel the Leopards to their fourth-straight victory.
Lafayette (4-1), playing in front of a spirited crowd at Kirby Sports Center, won 25-18, 27-25, 17-25, 25-27.
Kayly Elmer led the team with 14 kills and 13 digs while senior Cara Mulholland chipped in 11 kills and 11 digs. Two of their teammates added double-digit dig totals in Ashton Rossi (11) and Kari Horn (18). Rossi added 31 assists and sophomore Alana Taylor contributed five blocks.
Lafayette made easy work of the Purple Eagles in the opening set. With the set tied at 15-all, Niagara's Amanda Wilken had an attacking error to hand the lead to the Leopards. They would not relinquish the lead and went on to the seven-point win.
Niagara (5-3) put up a fight in the second set. Lafayette led 21-17 late in the action but the Purple Eagles came from behind to knot the score at 24. Back-to-back kills from Elmer and Taylor clinched the win for the Leopards.
The Purple Eagles had an easier time in the third set with a 25-17 win, but Lafayette bounced back to take another nail-biter in the fourth set, 27-25. The lead switched hands for the course of play, but Rossi put the team up 26-25 with a kill and Niagara's Hannah Hedrick had an attacking error to hand the victory to Lafayette.
The tournament concludes tomorrow with three matches, beginning at 10 a.m.
