Lake Forest College Volleyball
News & Notes

November 12, 1999      
Contact:  Scott Rucker, SID

FORESTERS WIN ONE, LOSE ONE IN FIRST-EVER NCAA APPEARANCE

     Although it was the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Lake Forest College volleyball team played like veterans as they defeated Calvin College on Thursday (Nov. 11) before falling to College of Mount St. Joseph (OH), the ninth-ranked team in the nation, in five games on Friday (Nov. 12). Calvin came into the tournament as the 19th ranked team in the country, while Mount St. Joseph upped their overall record to 34-4. Lake Forest's season ended with a 19-11 mark and their second Midwest Conference Championship in the past three years. 
     Playing from the sixth seed, the Foresters beat Calvin in four games (15-13, 15-12, 8-15, 15-9) in the opening round. Lake Forest overcame a .073 team hitting percentage and got 16 kills and 6 blocks from sophomore Stephanie Reinboldt (McHenry, IL/Marian Central Catholic High School). The Foresters had 14 blocks as a team. 
     The win put Lake Forest into the Midwest regional semifinals and into the national round of 32. After taking two of the first three games against Mount St. Joseph, Lake Forest was unable to hold on against the second seed and fell 10-15, 16-14, 8-15, 15-9, 15-4. Junior setter Sarah Frantz (Lake Geneva, WI/Badger H.S.) distributed 64 assists on the night. Five different Foresters had at least 9 kills, including four with 14 or more. Amanda Taylor (Chico, CA/Pleasant Valley H.S.) had 18 kills and 20 digs, Mary Gerke (Bend, OR/Bend H.S.) had 14 kills and 17 digs, Jessie Griffin (Beecher, IL/Marian Catholic) had 14 kills and 21 digs, Reinboldt 14 kills, and Angela Lagerman (Menomonee Falls, WI/Menomonee Falls H.S.) added 9 kills. 
     Gerke and Griffin played in the final match for Lake Forest. Gerke finished her career as the school's all-time career leader for games played, total blocks, and hitting percentage while appearing in the top ten for every career statistical category except assists. Griffin appeared in the school's all-time top four for aces, kills, digs, and games played. Also this season, Lake Forest Head Coach Beth Pier collected her 100th career victory.