Sept. 10, 2013

(2-6) 1 2 3 F St. Francis (N.Y.) 19 22 21 0 Lafayette 25 25 25 3 Box Score | Box Score (PDF) (6-1)

Easton, Pa. - The Lafayette volleyball team improved to 6-1 on Tuesday night with a 3-0 sweep of visiting St. Francis (N.Y.). The Leopards continue their hot streak with their sixth straight victory, and their fifth straight sweep.

The Leopards were led by sophomore Brianne Giangiobbe's 11 kills and Patriot League Rookie of the Week, freshman setter Samantha Volk's 31 assists and four aces. Senior Karissa Ciliento chipped in nine kills and seven digs, while freshman Jet Manzi and junior Danielle Towslee hit six and five kills, respectively.

In the first set the Leopards took the early lead at 4-2 on a pair of kills from Giangiobbe and an ace from Volk, but found themselves trailing midway through 16-11. After a Lafayette timeout, the Maroon and White cut the lead to 16-15 on two kills from Manzi.

With the Terriers leading 18-16, Towslee earned Lafayette's next four points on a kill from Volk followed by three straight aces to take the lead. Kills from Ciliento and junior Katy Rooney and an ace from Volk closed out the first set, 25-19.

A pair of kills from Gianngiobbe and a kill and an ace from Ciliento gave the Leopards an early 4-2 lead in the second set. The Leopards used a pair of kills from Towslee and Manzi and an ace from Manzi to build a 10-6 advantage. St. Francis climbed back into the set winning six of eight points to knot the game at 12-12.

The Leopards again built a four-point lead, 17-13, thanks to an ace from Volk, but the Terriers would not go away and tied the game at 17. The teams exchanged the next 10 points to bring the scored to 22-22. With Towslee serving, the Leopards won the final three points. A block from Rooney and Volk and a kill from Ciliento gave the Maroon and White the second game, 25-22.

Lafayette came out flying in the third set winning the first five points on a pair of kills from both Giangiobbe and Rooney and an ace from Volk. The Terriers then took the next six points to take a 6-5 lead. With the Leopards down 11-10, Volk earned a kill and a pair of aces from Manzi pushed Lafayette ahead, 14-11. Back-to-back kills from Ciliento and Volk increased the Leopards lead to 18-12.

St. Francis again climbed back into the set, cutting the Lafayette lead to 21-19. Towslee smashed a kill from Volk to make it 22-19. With sophomore Lauren Pisauro serving, the Leoaprds won the next two points and won the final game, 25-21.

The Leopards are back in action on Friday at 6 p.m. with their first match of the Crosstown Tournament inside Kirby Sports Center against Marist at 6 p.m. On Saturday Lafayette will take on Quinnipiac at 10 a.m. and Morgan State at 3 p.m.