EASTON, Pa. - The Leopards ended day one of the Maroon and White Classic with a 1-1 record, securing a victory against Marist (3-1) and dropping a contest to Montana State (3-0) on Saturday at Kirby Sports Center.
Lafayette began its day with a matchup against Marist. Auma Mbeche-Odhiambo (3) and rookie Grace Jamison (3) paced the Leopards in kills during the first set, as the Maroon and White coasted to a 25-21 victory.
In set two, Lafayette gained a quick advantage before the Red Foxes stormed back. With the score at 12-10 in favor of the Leopards, Marist rattled off five consecutive scores, four of which came via kills (15-12). The hosts responded by securing four of the next five points, with Mbeche-Odhiambo accounting for two of the scores. The Red Foxes broke the 16-16 tie with a short spurt, as Molly Malone, Taylor Miller and Sara Dasic recorded kills to jump ahead 20-16. Another four-point run down the stretch granted Marist a second set win, 25-19.
Both squads were unable to create much separation during the third set. With the score tied at 9-9, Lafayette collected a four-point stretch. Marist countered quickly, tallying a four-point run to knot the score once again, 13-13. Lafayette and Marist continued to trade scores over the next 12 points, with each team collecting six (19-19). Once again deadlocked, freshman Justine Puig ignited the Leopard offense with a kill, one of three of her during the set. The Leopards battled and notched scores in three of the next four points (23-20). Puig and classmate Johanna Groger ended things off with kills to lock up a 25-21 set victory and a 2-1 set lead.
The Leopards closed out the match in the fourth set, 25-21. Mbeche-Odhiambo and Destiny McKenzie combined for 12 kills, with each junior accounting for six. Groger and Noa Kamphuis added in four and two points via kills, respectively. Junior Mackenzie Calhoun notched 10 assists and finished the contest with 29.
The second match of the day pitted the Maroon and White against Montana State. The Bobcats came out firing on all cylinders, collecting an early 16-11 advantage. The Leopards had an answer for Montana State and stopped the run with a McKenzie kill. The junior jumpstarted a quick four-point run, pulling Lafayette within one (16-15). The visitors eventually regained their footing, recollecting a 21-16 advantage. Lafayette refused to quit, clawing its way back with kills from Puig (2) and Mbeche-Odhiambo (1) over the ensuing eight points (23-22). The Bobcats ended things shortly after to win the first set, 25-22.
Montana State, the only team to end Saturday unbeaten, took care of business in sets two (25-21) and three (25-18) to sweep the Maroon and White. The visitors' Elli Tufto (13) and Elli Esko (12) combined for 25 of Montana State's 46 kills in the match. Setter Maggie Rhew was responsible for a team-high 33 assists.
Mbeche-Odhiambo was the Leopards' leader on offense, notching a game-best 14 kills. Sophia Wilson and Calhoun tallied 15 and 12 kills, respectively.
Lafayette concludes the Maroon and White Classic on Sunday at 1 p.m. when it faces off against Delaware.
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