NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell College women's volleyball team rallied from two sets down to force a fifth set, but came up short in a 3-2 loss to Wentworth Institute of Technology on Tuesday night at the Lasell Athletic Center. The Lasers drop to 0-9 on the season while the Leopards stand 5-1 overall.

The visitors took the first two sets, 25-8 and 25-14, before the Lasers staged a comeback and forced five sets with 25-20 and 25-23 wins in the back half of the match. In a tight fifth set, the Leopards downed Lasell 15-10 to pull out the match.

Freshman Kiana Perez (Juncos, P.R.) had an outstanding match for Lasell, notching a season-high 22 kills and 12 digs with a .340 hitting percentage. Senior Olivia Addington (Orange, Calif.) added 10 kills and 13 digs for her fourth double-double on the year, while sophomore libero Allie Jo Amos (Prescott, Ariz.) added a team-high 17 digs for the Lasers. Freshman setter Jess Langan (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) sprung 42 assists, also a season-high.

After Wentworth clinched the first two sets, the score jumped back and forth during the third set, resulting in Lasell capturing the 25-20 victory. The Lasers brought it back in the fourth set when Perez got a kill to tie up the set 5-5. From then on, both teams battled to gain a lead, until the Lasers secured the fourth set 25-23. Lasell grabbed a 6-5 advantage in the fifth set, and trailed by just two points (11-9) late in the set before the Leopards pulled out the 15-10 decision.

Junior Leah Rogoz (Woodridge, Ill.) lead the Leopards with 13 kills and nine digs while freshman Jade Iadarola (Miami, Fla.) earned 10 kills and Mary Zlotosch (Durham, N.H.) had 11 kills. Junior Lexie Cambray (Bedford, N.H.) recorded a team-high 13 digs and junior Katie Clouse (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) supported the Leopards with 24 assists.

The Lasers will travel to play the Worcester State University Lancers on Thursday, September 13 at 7 pm. Wentworth continues on to face SUNY Plattsburgh and Union College at the Union Crosstown Tournament on Friday, September 14.

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