Lake Forest Defeats Knox in Final Home Match of the Season
Baich and Martin combine for 21 kills and 24 digs in final career home match

Ashley Cretacci

Forester junior Ashley Cretacci (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) recorded a match-high 19 kills. She committed just two errors in 32 attempts for a .531 hitting percentage. Senior Nicole Baich (Westchester, Ill./Nazareth Academy), playing in the final home match of her career, registered 13 kills and freshman Mandi Mulliner (Elmhurst, Ill./York) had 10. Junior Ashleigh Martinez (Chula Vista, Calif./Hilltop) tallied 49 assists and, along with sophomore Regina Cyvas (Downers Grove, Ill./Benet Academy) added a team-high two aces.

Junior Lisa Sturgill (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan South) led the team’s defensive effort with 23 digs and senior Merissa Martin (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills) had 15 in her final career home match. Martinez added a dozen digs, Cyvas chipped in with 10, and Baich matched a career-high with nine. Baich also led all players in the match with four blocks and Mulliner had three – all solos.

Lake Forest will conclude the regular season on the road this weekend (October 26-27). The team will play at Illinois College Friday night at 7:00 and at Monmouth College the following afternoon at 1:00. A Forester victory in both matches would clinch a berth in the six-team Midwest Conference Tournament November 2-3. A win in just one of the contests would still likely give the squad one of the six spots.