Sept. 25, 2010
Box Score
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Lafayette volleyball team got the jump on defending Patriot League Champion Army in each of the first two sets on Saturday afternoon at West Point. The Leopards were unable to hold on, however, as the Black Knights rallied in both frames en route to claiming a 3-0 decision. Army took the match by set scores of 25-22, 25-21 and 25-10.
Lafayette falls to 4-11 overall and 0-2 in Patriot League play. The Black Knights move above .500 at 9-8 with a 2-0 mark in league action.
Senior co-captain Kayly Elmer led the offense with six kills and also fortified the back row with a team-best 10 digs. Junior Alana Taylor hit .400, slamming four kills on 10 errorless swings. Freshman setter Molly Belcher ran the offense and distributed 15 assists. She also notched eight digs, flirting with a double-double for the second consecutive day.
The Leopards had one of their best showings at the net, posting seven blocks to Army's five. Taylor had a hand in four blocks, including two solo stuffs. Senior co-captain Katrina Racibarskas and freshman Karissa Ciliento each landed two aces for Lafayette, but the home team served tough with 11 winners, including five from Karyn Powell.
In the first set, an early 4-0 run put the Leopards on top by a score of 7-4. Army would knot the score several times, but the three-point cushion for Lafayette ultimately held up to a 20-17 margin. The Maroon and White would own a 22-20 advantage, but did not score again as the Black Knights ran off five straight tallies to take the first frame, 25-22.
Lafayette jumped out to another early lead in the set two at 7-2, and extended that cushion to as many as seven points at 16-9. However, a nine-point run from the home team would erase that margin as the score was soon knotted at 21-21. Once again, Army finished the set strong, winning the final four rallies to take a 25-21 decision and gain a hard-fought 2-0 edge in the match.
Army would not have to play from behind in the third set, as the run came early in the form of a 7-1 spurt. Lafayette only scored on its own serve on three occasions in the set, and the Black Knights ran off the final 10 points to lock up the match with a 25-10 victory.
Army's D.J. Phee was the only player to reach double-figure kills with a match-high 10. She also led all players with 17 digs, as four different Black Knights posted 10 or more digs. Powell dished out 15 assists and Lauren Wood added 11.
The Leopards will return to Kirby Sports Center next weekend, as Patriot League play continues with matches against Bucknell on Oct. 1 and Colgate on Oct. 2.
