PAINESVILLE, OHIO – The Lake Erie College volleyball team opened its 2010 season with a split in two matches Friday (Sept. 3) at the Davis & Elkins College Spikefest in Elkins, W. Va.  The Storm swept West Virginia Tech in the opener before falling in four games to Indiana University (Pa.) in the nightcap.

In the win over West Virginia Tech, sophomore Mary Walter (Solon, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) led the offensive attack with 13 kills.  Junior setters Lauren Bogatay (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and Krista O'Connor (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) each had 13 assists with O'Connor leading the defensive effort with six digs.  Freshman Jamie Hoppe (Green Springs, Ohio/Clyde) had a strong debut with six kills, five digs and a pair of block assists.  The Storm won by scores 0f 25-19, 25-15 and 25-21.

Lake Erie won the first set against IUP, 25-22, but the Crimson Hawks won the next three 25-17, 25-15 and 25-8.  Despite the loss, Hoppe posted 10 kills and 11 digs while senior Lauren Johnson (Wellington, Ohio/Keystone) had a match-high 22 digs on defense.  Bogatay had 18 assists while O'Connor had 17.

The Storm plays a pair of matches during Saturday's second day of the D&E Spikefest, facing Ohio Valley University and host Davis & Elkins.

-LEC-