La Salle vs. Manhattan Box Score
La Salle vs. NJIT Box Score

La Salle dropped two games on the opening day of the 2014 La Salle Invitational. The Explorers dropped their opening match of the year 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-19) to Manhattan, before falling 3-1 (25-20, 15-25, 24-26, 17-25) to NJIT.
 
Junior Kelly Perillo paced the team with 11 kills in the opening game to go with as six digs. The freshmen class as a whole stepped up in their first collegiate game. Hannah McGary and Bryanna Davis tied for second on the team with six kills apiece. McGary added two block assists in the match, and hit at a .357 clip, good for best on the team. Classmate Rachel Carr added four kills and a block against Manhattan.
 
The Explorers nearly pulled out the second set, falling by just two points, 27-25, after holding the lead for most of the set. Perillo had a monster set, contributing six kills in the second set alone.
 
Junior Laura Kuhlmeier who was playing her first career match at libero accounted for 13 digs and three assists against the Jaspers, while classmate Michelle Healy paced the Explorers with 30 assists.
 
In the second match of the day the Explorers jumped out to a quick one set lead thanks to some great defense. La Salle limited the Highlanders to just a .189 hitting percentage in the first set. Senior Jennifer Whelan led the Explorers with six kills in the set to go along with a big service ace.
 
La Salle dropped the next three sets but put up a fight including losing the third set, which went back-and-forth, 24-26.
Healy served up 41 assists in the second game, while Davis (12 kills, 11 digs) and Perillo (12 kills, 14 digs) both had double-doubles. Kuhlmeier and defensive specialist Erin Noga both added in 12 digs apiece in the defensive effort.
 
The Explorers return to action in day two of the La Salle Invitational facing Coppin State (2-0) at 11:30 a.m., and Loyola (0-1) to cap off the tournament at 7:00 p.m. with all the action happening at Tom Gola Arena.