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EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette maintained a strong offensive performance for a majority of tonight's home match with Holy Cross, finishing with a .235 attack percentage that was its third-highest output of the season.

The Crusaders, unfortunately, were nearly as strong with a .233 attack rate of their own, and they were able to come up with the plays when it mattered most to emerge with a hard-fought 3-2 victory. Set scores were 26-24, 20-25, 27-29, 25-22, 15-10.

"Volleyball is a game of inches," head coach Terri Dadio Campbell said. "When opportunities presented themselves, many times this evening we did really well and capitalized, but those few times that we didn't came at critical moments and that's ultimately what led to the loss."

Several Leopards had career-best performances, highlighted by a 21-kill showing from Elizabeth Walsh that came with a .421 attack percentage. Tori Smith, meanwhile, had career-highs in both kills (15) and digs (21), while Maria Balus had a season-high 64 assists to go along with 19 digs.

Brianne Giangiobbe added 20 kills on attack, and Lauren Pisauro added 18 digs out of Lafayette's season-high 107-dig output.

Set one set the tone for the match. Both teams had early four-point advantages, as the Leopards led 8-4 and Holy Cross was ahead by a 17-13 margin. Lafayette, though, took five points in a row after that largest lead for the Crusaders to reclaim a slim edge in the set. Things were neck-and-neck the rest of the way until a pair of attack errors sealed the frame for the visitors.

The next set had some dramatic swings as well, with Holy Cross turning a 9-3 deficit into a 18-17 advantage before a string of six-straight points, including five on the serve of Balus, swung the set in favor of the Maroon and White.

No one led by more than three points throughout the next set, which was tied for Lafayette's longest of the year. The Leopards fought off two set points trailing 24-22, and Manzi finally made it 2-1 for the home team with an ace at 28-27.

Lafayette had an opportunity to seal the match in set four, winning five points in a row after trailing 18-13 and taking a 20-19 lead on a kill from Smith. The Crusaders responded with three-straight points of their own and did not trail again.

Holy Cross then jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the decisive set. The Leopards cut that down to 11-10, but then dropped the next four points as the Crusaders completed a season sweep.

Tonight's win moves Holy Cross (7-19, 4-9 PL) a game above Lafayette (11-13, 3-10 PL) in the Patriot League standings.

Smith and Balus' double-doubles were the 10th and 11th of the season for the Leopards, and the first for anyone on the team since Balus notched 61 assists and 14 digs against Bucknell on Oct. 3.

Lafayette remains home for a tough challenge tomorrow, as Army comes to College Hill for a 5 p.m. contest. The Black Knights (19-7, 11-2 PL) are currently ranked second in the conference.