The Forester women's volleyball team traveled to Arizona to begin its 2026 season and was defeated in three sets at Benedictine University Mesa on Friday.
The Redhawks, who were playing in their sixth match of the year, jumped out to a five-point lead early in the opening set and the margin eventually grew to seven at 20-13. Lake Forest won six of the next seven points to close to within two but the home team took the next four and the set 25-19.
Set two was similar with Benedictine Mesa leading by as many as five early and the Foresters coming back. This time the visitors tied the score at 14 but were unable to take the lead. Lake Forest fought off a pair of set points before falling 25-22.
The third set had the same final score as the second. The Foresters led 8-6 before dropping seven of eight points. Trailing 18-13 later on, they rattled off five in a row to tie the score. The Redhawks, however, outscored their guests 7-4 the rest of the way to win the match.
Outside hitter
Elise Kelley led Lake Forest with 10 kills in her collegiate debut. Middle blocker
Rio Dirksen was next on the team with nine in just 14 attempts and she finished the day with a .571 hitting percentage. Setter
Lilly Robinson tallied 30 assists as the Foresters recorded 41 kills, more than they had in any three-set match last season.
Dirksen was also a presence on defense and her three blocks tied her with
Alivia Barker for the team lead. SeniorÂ
Lexi Peña paced the squad with 17 digs while freshman
L'Rae White also reached double figures with 12.
It was the first of two matches in Arizona for the Foresters, who will also play at Park University Gilbert on Saturday at noon.
