ATLANTA, Ga. - The LaGrange College women's volleyball team lost in five sets to Saint Mary's College of Indiana at the 2026 Jenny McDowell Invitational hosted by Emory University on Friday evening at the Woodruff PE Center Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
THE BASICS
Score: Saint Mary's 3, LaGrange College 2 (21-25, 15-25, 25-20, 25-14, 15-10)
Records: Panthers 0-2, 0-0 CCS | Belles 2-1, 0-0 MIAA
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After taking the first two sets, the Panthers found themselves going into the fifth tied at two apiece. LaGrange went up 4-3 off a kill from freshman middle-blocker Nelle Murphy (Jacksonville, Fla.) but Saint Mary's recovered, taking the next three points for a 6-4 lead. A kill by junior outside hitter Ella Sprouse (Sneads, Fla.) tied it at seven and an attack error by the Belles would tie it at eight, but the Panthers couldn't hold on down the stretch.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- LaGrange junior outside hitter Ella Kahikina (Tampa, Fla.) led the Panthers with 13 kills and four service aces.
- LC sophomore middle-blocker Kaitlyn Smith (Buckeye, Ariz.) posted 12 kills with a .370 hitting percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Alex Krabs (Boynton Beach, Fla.) added 12 kills.
UP NEXT
- LaGrange is back on the court on Saturday when they play Pfeiffer University and Oglethorpe University.
For continuing coverage of LaGrange College Athletics, visit lagrangepanthers.com and follow the Panthers on Instagram ( @lagrange_panthers ), Twitter ( @lcpanthers ) and Facebook ( LaGrange Panthers ).
