Box Score

 

(7-20, 6-10 PL)     1 2 3 4 5 F  Lafayette 25 22 21 25 15 3  Holy Cross 20 25 25 16 12 2 Box Score (6-22, 3-13 PL)  

 

Worcester, Mass. – The Lafayette volleyball team ended its 2014 campaign in style with a thrilling five-set victory at Holy Cross on Saturday. Freshman Elizabeth Walsh had a match-high 17 kills, while senior Danielle Towslee finished with 14 kills.

The Leopards finished the season with a 6-22 record overall and a 3-13 mark in Patriot League play. Holy Cross dropped to 7-20 overall and 6-10 in conference action. Freshman Tori Smith contributed nine kills and 34 assists for the Leopards. The Crusaders were led by Mandy Sifferlen's 11 kills.

Lafayette jumped out to an early 10-7 lead on four kills from Towslee in the opening set. Holy Cross was able to tie the game at 12, but the Leopards responded with a five-point spurt, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Smith. Holy Cross was unable to get back into the set, and Smith finished off the set with another kills, as the Leopards took the openinng game, 25-20.

In the second set, the Crusaders took the early 13-9 advantage. The Leopards climbed back into the set with a pair of kills from Walsh and a block from Smith and Katherine Stevens, to pull within a point, 16-15. Trailing by a point, 19-18, Lafayette pushed ahead with a 4-1 run, courtesy of a pair Brianne Giangiobbe kills. Holy Cross ended the set with a 5-0 spurt to take the second game, 25-22.

The Leopards ran out to a 5-1 lead in the third frame, on kills from Jet Manzi, Towslee and Walsh. Holy Cross battled back and tied the set at 11. The teams exchanged points throughout the rest of the set until the Crusaders used a 6-2 run late in the game to take a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-21 win in the third game.

Lafayette came out flying in the fourth set, building an 11-6 lead early on. Walsh led the way with three kills to open the set. The Leopards led throughout the fourth frame, as three straight kills from Walsh, Katy Rooney and Towslee pushed the lead to 16-8 midway through the set. Back-to-back kills from Smith increased the advantage to 22-14, and the Leopards went on to force a fifth set with a 25-16 win in the fourth game.

Walsh gave the Leopards an early 4-1 lead in the fifth set. Holy Cross answered with a 10-4 run to take an 11-8 lead late in the frame. Lafayette used a 7-2 run highlighted by a Smith ace and a pair of kills from Giangiobbe to take the fifth set, 15-12, and the match, 3-2.