GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Emily Buyse tallied nine kills with five total blocks in Tuesday's win against Lake Forest.

Wheaton, Ill.- The Thunder volleyball team opened their home schedule on Tuesday night with a 3-0 victory over Lake Forest College.  In a back and forth affair, Wheaton (1-4) fell behind early in the first two sets before coming back to win 28-26, 25-23, 25-17.

Lake Forest (2-3) jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in set number one before the Thunder came storming back to tie the game at nine apiece.  The rest of the set remained very evenly matched with the nine ties, but Wheaton broke out of a 26-26 tie to win the set 28-26.

Wheaton again fell behind in the second set as the Foresters built a 15-7 lead.  The Thunder roared back with seven straight points and eventually took their first lead of the set at 18-17.  Wheaton would go on another short run to turn a 20-20 tie into a three point lead but Lake Forest would not go quietly.  After staving off two game points, Madeline Taylor went down the line with a kill to give the Thunder the second set by a score of 25-23.

The third set brought a fresh wind for the Thunder who jumped out to a 13-8 lead.  Lake Forest would rally and trim the lead, but the Thunder pulled away behind the service of freshman libero Kelli Manning and took a 19-11 advantage.  The Foresters mounted one more rally but it would not be enough as the Thunder triumphed 25-17.

Taylor led the Thunder with a team-high 10 kills and Emily Buyse added nine kills with five total blocks. Lauren Whilhite registered a team-high 28 assists, with three total blocks. Kelli Manning recorded 22 digs and Cassie Murphy added 11 digs, with three total blocks.