MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Alverno College volleyball team went the distance in a five-set thriller against Lake Forest College on Tuesday night inside Reiman Gymnasium, but came up just short in a 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 26-24, 23-25, 15-6) defeat. Freshman Sofia Mitchell (Denver, Colo./Denver School of Science & Technology) led the way with her effort defensively, matching program records for block assists and total blocks.

Mitchell's seven block assists matched the program record set by Jessica Wewers back in 2015 against Silver Lake, and her nine total blocks tied the single-game mark that Elizabeth Steininger hit twice on back-to-back days in 2001. Mitchell also chipped in with nine kills for a total of 14.5 points.

Freshman Mary Needham (San Tan Valley, Ariz./Poston Butte) paced the Inferno attack with 16 kills, matching her career-high, and added two block assists for a 17-point outing. Holly King (Richland Center, Wis./Ithaca) tallied eight kills, five assists, three service aces, and 13 digs for the Inferno.

Senior Sharisty Kooch (Terrebonne, Ore./Redmond) directed the offense with 28 assists, 11 digs, and three kills, registering her second straight double-double, while freshman Brooklynne Hereford (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) led the defensive effort with a team-high 20 digs. Carley Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis./St. Francis) added three kills and three block assists with nine digs, while fellow freshman Beyonca Hereford (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) recorded eight assists and five digs.

As a team, the Inferno hit .117 (44-25-162) while recording 10 total blocks and 9 service aces. Lake Forest hit .111 (48-30-162) and posted eight team blocks and 21 aces in a closely contested match that featured 18 ties and 12 lead changes. The teams were nearly even in assists and digs, with Lake Forest holding the edge 43-42 and 78-77, respectively.

With the result, Alverno moves to 3-12 overall while Lake Forest improves to 4-9 overall. The Inferno return to action on Thursday, Oct. 9, when they host Benedictine in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference matchup at 7 p.m.

After dropping the opening set 25-17, Alverno responded with an energetic second frame. Behind strong serving from Kooch to start the stanza on a 4-0 run, the team gained momentum and had timely attacks by Mitchell, Needham, and King. The Inferno held off a late Forester push for a 25-18 win to even the match, ending the set on a 5-1 run.

The third set was the most competitive of the night, featuring back-and-forth rallies and clutch play on both sides, but Lake Forest edged out a 26-24 decision. The Foresters utilized a late 6-0 run to pull ahead 20-19, and after Alverno responded with a 4-1 run and a chance at set point, Lake Forest closed the third set on a 5-1 run to win.

Alverno answered once again in the fourth stanza, rallying from a mid-set 12-8 deficit to go on a 6-0 run behind a couple of Needham kills. Trailing 22-18, senior Breann Flannery (Argyle, Wis./Argyl) used some strong serving to push the team to a 5-0 run and a 23-22 lead. After the Foresters evened the score, King finished the set with consecutive kills to force a decisive fifth set.

In the final frame, Lake Forest jumped out to an early lead and closed strong to seal the 15-6 win and the match.

Meghan Winston led the way for Lake Forest with a triple-double, tallying 13 kills, 16 assists, and 14 digs. Crystyna Yates added 12 kills and had four service aces to go along with eight digs, and Lilly Robinson tallied a double-double with 16 assists and 11 digs. More Than a Game, 25 Years of Strength and Spirit: Alverno College is proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Alverno Athletics. Since 2000, our student-athletes have embodied the spirit of competition, teamwork, and excellence both on and off the courts and fields. Join us in honoring a quarter-century of Inferno pride on the following dates as we celebrate 25 years of strength and spirit -

• Volleyball vs. Rockford on November 1^st at noon
• Softball vs. Maranatha on March 31^st at 3 p.m.
• Softball vs. Concordia Wisconsin on April 25 at noon