Sept. 5, 2012

(1-8) 1 2 3 4 5 F La Salle 23 25 12 25 10 2 Lafayette 25 15 25 22 15 3 Box Score | Box Score (PDF) (6-1)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- The Lafayette volleyball team got back on track Wednesday night as it clawed its way to a win over the Explorers of La Salle in five sets.

The Leopards traded sets all night, winning the first, third and fifth, and dropping the second and fourth sets. After a tight opening set win 25-23, the two teams traded dominant performances as La Salle took the second 25-15 and Lafayette took the third 25-12. In the fourth, the Leopards dropped a tight one 25-22, but the fifth went Lafayette's way as a series of long-point wins carried them to victory 15-10.

Sophomore Danielle Towslee led the attack at the net with 11 kills for the Leopard offense. Adding nine and eight kills respectively, senior Kaitlynn Zoller and junior Karissa Ciliento helped to control the court as well.

Reigning Patriot League Player of the Week Sarah Frohnapfel racked up another 30-plus assist performance with 32 set-ups on the night. Defensively, sophomore Michelle Woodworth tallied 28 digs, while Frohnapfel added 23. At the net, sophomore Katy Rooney and Towslee recorded two blocks apiece.

In the first, Lafayette jumped all over the Explorers taking the first six points featuring two kills by Ciliento and one apiece by Zoller, Frohnapfel and Rooney. The Leopards held the lead for most of the set, but allowed La Salle back in when a Kelly Scanlon kill tied the set at 17. In the end, two Zoller kills closed out the set in Lafayette's favor 25-23.

The second set started as a stalemate with the score 8-8 midway through. However, a seven-point run by the Explorers stretched their lead to 18-10 and allowed them to close out the set easily, 25-15.

In the third, the Leopards started strong, jumping out to a 7-1 lead thanks to two Towslee kills. Lafayette took care of the lead this time, cruising to a 25-12 set victory.

A 14-5 run to begin the fourth by La Salle put the Leopards in a hole as they tried to close out the match in four. Kills by Ciliento and Zoller brought Lafayette back to within striking distance at 14-10, but the Explorers manufactured points when they needed them to close out the set and force a fifth, 25-22.

The Explorers took an early advantage in the fifth as they shot out to a 7-4 lead. Then, Ciliento single-handedly brought the Leopards back as a kill followed by a service ace and three errors by La Salle gave Lafayette the 9-7 lead, forcing an Explorer timeout. The Leopards took six of the final nine points out of the break to close out the fifth with a win, 15-10.

Next up for Lafayette is a battle with Fordham in the Bronx, N.Y. on Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m.