VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Explorers fell to Princeton on Saturday, 3-0. Sophomore Elizabeth Osborn finished with 12 kills, tied for the game high, while freshman Rachel Hess had a match-best 14 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Explorers began brightly and held two four-point leads (at 11-7 and 12-8) in the early going. The Tigers clawed back and eventually took their first advantage at 17-16. Neither team gave up much ground after that; a kill by senior Catherine Edgington tied things up at 23-23, but Princeton found two straight points to claim the set.
• Again, La Salle got off to the better start, going up 4-1 in the second frame. Princeton stayed close and took the 12-9 lead through four straight points, eventually opening up the gap to 20-13. While it appeared the Explorers couldn't come back, that's just what they did by embarking on a 9-3 run. That effort closed the gap to 23-22 until the Tigers tallied two of the final three points to go up 2-0 in the game.
• La Salle jumped out to an 8-5 advantage in the third set but couldn't distance itself from the opposition. The Tigers prowled, waiting for a time to strike and did so after La Salle had tied things at 12-12 by rattling off eight straight points. Unfortunately for the Blue & Gold, down 20-12, it only had one big comeback attempt in this game—the Tigers finished the Explorers by outscoring them 5-2 thereafter.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Just shy of double-doubles: senior Kathryn Wood finished with 24 assists and nine digs, while junior Samantha Graver tallied eight kills and 12 digs.
• The Tigers won in most statistical categories, but La Salle did have one more ace (2-1) than its opponents. The Explorers also had slightly more attacking opportunities with 115 to Princeton's 113.
• Senior Devin Corah and freshman Marisa Guisti tied for the team lead in total blocks with two each.

 
UP NEXT

• A-10 play begins next weekend as La Salle takes trips to VCU on Friday and Davidson on Sunday.