Box Score
Box Score (PDF)

BALTIMORE - The Explorers hit the road for their first away tournament of the young season, traveling down to Baltimore, MD for the Radisson Cross Keys Greyhound Challenge. The team hoped to buck the four match losing streak with a fast start in the tournament opener against the host team Loyola (Md.). The Greyhounds had other ideas as they dispatched the Explorers in straight sets (25-21, 25-19, 25-22).
 
The Greyhounds size at the net front posed problems for the Explorers all night. "Loyola [Md.] was a tall team and we fought hard, but didn't come out with the win like we would have wanted to," junior captain Rachel Melich said. Loyola (Md.) was able to use their height to create two significant advantages over the smaller Explorers. The Greyhounds rode substantial advantages in hitting percentage (.310 to .094) and blocks (19 to 6), which proved to be the difference in the match.
 
Kelly Perillo continued her strong play with 11 kills (.267) to lead the Explorers. Ashley Felton also played another solid match for the Blue & Gold with 7 kills (.200), while Elena Lamping contributed 6 kills and a team leading .286 hitting percentage.
 
The Explorers continued to run their attack through both of their excellent setters. Michelle Healy led the team with 14 assists, while Rachel Melich chipped in 13 helpers.
 
The Explorers play improved throughout the match, as their hitting percentage increased in each successive set. The team hopes that they can take that positive momentum into tomorrow's double-header. "There are definitely things we know we have to work on, but we still have two games tomorrow and we have been working extremely hard this season so we will come out with a winning mentality," Melich said.
 
La Salle returns to action tomorrow morning with an 11:30am clash with the Delaware Blue Hens, followed by the tournament cap against the UMBC Retrievers at 4:30pm.