The Forester volleyball team was defeated 25-13, 25-21, 25-17 by visiting Ripon College in the first Midwest Conference match of the season for both teams on Friday. Brittany Avonts led Lake Forest with 13 kills in the match.

Avonts had just two attack errors in 23 attempts for a .478 hitting percentage. She is now hitting .375 on the year, slightly better than the program's single-season recod of .367 set by Mary Gerke in 1997.

Sophomore Erin Sully was next on the home team with six kills. Junior setter Torsie Pasiewicz led the squad with 17 assists and sophomore Kaitlyn Ladao with 11 digs.

A six-point run early in the opening set put the Red Hawks ahead but the Foresters battled back and later trailed by just one at 11-10. Ripon, however, lost just three points during the rest of the set.

The Foresters took the first point of set two for their first lead of the night but lost 13 of the next 15 to fall well behind again. The home team trimmed the margin to five points on five different occasions and pulled to within three at 24-21 before Ripon recorded set point.

Lake Forest led 1-0 and 3-2 in the third and final set but the Red Hawks took the lead and gradually pulled away to secure the match.

The Foresters are now 5-11 and the Red Hawks 9-11 overall this season.

Lake Forestwill travel to Marian University Tuesday night for a 7:00 non-conference contest.