Box Score
La Salle vs. Fordham Box (PDF)
 
PHILADELPHIA – The Explorers returned to action Friday evening, falling to the Fordham Rams in four sets (25-19, 25-27, 20-25, 13-25). Jennifer Whelan led the Blue & Gold attack with 12 kills (3 errors – 24 attacks - .375 hitting%), while adding a game-high five block assists. Kelly Perillo added 11 kills (4 errors – 34 attacks - .206 hitting%) and 12 digs, notching her third double-double of the season. Laura Kuhlmeier chipped in eight kills and ten digs, while marking a career-high four service aces to lead all players.
 
The Blue & Gold came out ready to play on Friday evening, scoring early and often against the Rams front line. The teams split the first eight points of the match, before the Explorers went on the first run of the match. A 6-2 scoring run gave La Salle a 10-6 lead. The Rams battled to close the gap, seven times cutting the deficit to two points. With the score 20-18 in favor of the Explorers, the Rams closed the gap to one on an attack error. The Explorers dug deep to take the next five points, with Kelly Perillo striking two kills to seal the opening set victory for the Blue & Gold 25-19.
 
The second set proved extremely competitive, as teams combined for ten ties and six lead changes, as the second set went to extra points. The Explorers and Rams again traded points in the early going. With Fordham holding onto a 10-8 lead, the Blue & Gold went on a 6-1 run, with Jennifer Whelan notching a kill and a block assist during the streak, to take a 14-11 lead. The Explorers maintained the lead for the next few rotations, and extended the lead to four at 20-16 on back-to-back kills by Whelan. With the Blue & Gold looking to take a commanding two sets to none lead over the Rams, Fordham strung together an 8-2 run to gain two cracks at set point. The Explorers rallied to win the next three points on kills by Rachel Finkbeiner and Kuhlmeier, to force a set point opportunity of their own. Fordham staved off the set point, and back-to-back kills by Brianna O'Neil iced the second set, as the Explorers fell 25-27 in extra points.
 
Letting the second set slip away seemed to take the wind out of the Explorers sails following the ten-minute intermission. The Explorers were competitive in the third set, but never held the lead in the swing set. Trailing by a single point at 16-17, Fordham strung together a 4-0 run to open up a five-point spread. The deficit proved too much for the Explorers to bridge, as they fell in the third set 20-25.
 
Feeling victory within their grasp, Fordham pressed hard taking eight of the first eleven points in the set, to jump out to an 8-3 lead. While the Explorers would take the next point on a kill by Perillo, that would be as close as the Blue & Gold would get. The Rams (10-19; 3-10 A-10) continued to extend the lead, cruising to the fourth set victory, as the Explorers fell 13-25.
 
Sophomore setter Michelle Healy led the Explorers with 22 assists in her return to the Explorer lineup following a three-match absence. She also chipped in seven digs, narrowly missing her sixth double-double of the season.
 
Junior setter Rachel Melich chipped in 15 helpers, adding six digs and a service ace.
 
The Explorers (1-30; 0-13 A-10) conclude their 2013 season with a 1:00pm match against Duquesne on Sunday at Tom Gola Arena. The Blue & Gold will celebrate Senior Day, with a ceremony honoring senior Rachel Finkbeiner before the match