Nov. 8, 2008

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to American in its 2008 home finale. The Leopards honored the three seniors on the team--Ainhoa Barturen, Megan Carter and Kat Kretzmer--prior to the start of the match.

Junior Cara Mulholland and sophomore Katrina Racibarskas led the team with nine kills apiece. Carter had a team-high 25 assists. The loss snapped the Leopards' four-match win streak.

American (24-7, 12-0) opened the match with a 25-14 win. The Eagles led from start to finish and closed out the set on a kill by Angelina Waterman.

Lafayette (12-16, 5-7) kept it close in the second set but ultimately dropped a 25-18 decision to the Eagles. American led by two (9-7) after an attack error by Rubena Sukaj but that was as close as Lafayette came in the set.

The Leopards jumped out to an 8-2 lead to start the third set and held a 13-9 edge after blocks by Barturen and Racibarskas. The Eagles came back to tie it at 18 but Lafayette scored three points to take a three-point lead (21-18). This time it was American's turn to score three straight, tying the set at 21-all. The score was tied again at 23 before the Eagles scored the final two points and ended the with a service ace by Ivana Cebakova.

Lafayette, which still has a chance to qualify for the Patriot League Tournament, closes out the regular season next weekend with two road matches. The Leopards will play Colgate on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and wrap-up the regular season against Bucknell on Saturday.