The Forester volleyball team began 2023 with a dramatic five-set victory over DePauw University at the Eagle Classic Friday night. The event is hosted by Benedictine University.

Lake Forest took the opening set 25-21 but fell 25-23 in set two. The next two sets were not nearly as close with the Foresters prevailing 25-15 in the third and DePauw 25-16 in the fourth. Lake Forest trailed 5-1 and 9-6 in set five before winning seven of eight points to pull ahead 13-10. The Tigers staged a comeback bid of their own and tied the score at 13 before a kill and an ace by senior Grace Franz secured the Lake Forest victory.

Franz finished the night with a career-high 17 kills to lead all players in the contest. Her four blocks were also a career-best and her stat line included eight digs and a .407 hitting percentage.

Joining Franz with double figure totals in kills were senior Mary Gegen with 11 and junior Rebekkah De Kok with 10.

Sophomore setter Lilly Robinson turned in a career-high 33 assists and served up half of the Foresters' eight aces in the contest.

Freshmen Karli Balzanto and Mia Atkins led Lake Forest with 18 digs and seven blocks, respectively, in their collegiate debut.

The Foresters will play twice on Saturday, taking on Fontbonne University at noon and Wisconsin Lutheran College at 2:00 p.m.