Box Score

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The LMU women's volleyball team (4-3) managed to force five sets after falling behind 2-1, but could not complete the comeback over Virginia Tech (5-2) on Friday at the High Point Invitational in High Point, N.C. The five-set loss, by scores of 25-19, 28-30, 25-21, 19-25, 15-12, marked the first time that LMU played to five this year. LMU, which was 37-10 (.787) in neutral matches over the last 11 years, dropped the first neutral match of a season since 2007 - a sweep at the hands of St. John's to open the year.

Junior Kathleen Luft led all players with 22 kills on 57 swings for LMU, but LMU was out-hit by a count of .302-.230. Luft was the lone Lion with a double-double, teaming the 22 kills with 10 digs for her second double-double in as many matches. LMU used both of its setters on Friday as sophomore Ashley Maxfeldt dished-out 32 assists to Hannah Tedrow's 20. Junior Betsi Metter, who served up one of LMU's three aces, tied for the match lead with 22 digs.

A balanced attack from Virginia Tech guided the Hokies to the five-set victory. Virginia Tech had four players with double-digit kills, paced by 20 from Samantha Gosling and 14 more from Jennifer Wiker. Wiker finished the match with a double-double, teaming the 14 kills with 10 digs. Jordan Fish also managed a double-double as the Hokie setter, combining a match-best 56 assists with 11 digs.

Virginia Tech received three kills apiece from Gostling, Wiker and Kathryn Caine en route to hitting .267 and taking the first set by a count of 25-19. The Lions hit just .167 in the opener as the Hokies combined for three blocks.

The Lions won a marathon second set, hitting .340 en route to earning a 30-28 decision. Luft came alive for seven kills, joined by four from Felicia Arriola and Caitlin DeWitt, while Metter collected eight of her 22 digs in the second set alone. The Hokies hit .279 in the set, but after battling to 10 tie scores, LMU eventually evened the match with the win.

Virginia Tech came out swinging in the third set, hitting for a solid .469 team percentage in the period. Victoria Hamsher and Caine each hit for perfect clips with three kills, while Gostling and Cara Baarendse led the Hokies with four kills apiece. Luft had eight kills for the Lions, but LMU hit just .250, thanks in part to three Virginia Tech blocks, before falling by a count of 25-19.

With their backs to the wall, the Lions scratched their way to a 25-19 fourth-set victory to force a fifth set. Despite hitting just .182 in the period, LMU received four kills from Luft and four team blocks, in addition to benefitting from six Virginia Tech service errors, to take the win.

Playing in a fifth set for the first time in 2012, LMU hit .143 while allowing a .292 hitting percentage from Virginia Tech, en route to dropping the match. The two teams played to five tie scores and two lead changes, but three team blocks, including back-to-back blocks from Hamsher and Caine to end the match, pushed Virginia Tech past the Lions. LMU led 9-5 in the final set, but the Hokies scratched back even at 11 to steal momentum and the decision.

LMU returns to action tomorrow when it plays host High Point at 8 a.m. PT.