DOVER, Del. --- Delaware State started quickly with a win in the first set, but dropped the next three in a loss to La Salle in Memorial Hall on Monday night.

The Hornets took the first set 25-23 before the Explorers evened the match with a 25-16 win in the second set. La Salle posted a 25-18 victory in set three; and won the fourth set 25-22 to claim the match.

In the first set, Delaware State led 5-2 before La Salle fought back to force a 9-9 tie. The Hornets fell behind 14-11, but scored four of the next five points to tie the set at 15-15. The teams were tied for the ninth time in the set, 23-23, when La Salle committed errors on the next two points to give DSU the win.

The second set was tied at 9-9 when the Explorers began to pull away. La Salle scored 11 of the next 15 points to open up a 20-13 lead in the set. DSU could get no closer than five points the rest of the way.

La Salle used an 8-3 run to take control in the third set.

In the fourth set, Delaware State trailed 17-12 before clawing back. The Hornets scored seven of the next 10 points, and pulled to within 20-19 on a kill by NaKia Jones (fr.). The Explorers answered with a 4-1 spurt to regain control of the set.

La Salle posted a .275 hitting percentage in the match. The Explorers had 58 kills and 19 errors on 142 attacks.

Delaware State tallied 41 kills and 15 errors on 122 attempts for a .213 attack percentage.

The Hornets held an edge in digs 58-57, while La Salle recorded 11 aces compered to five for DSU.

Jasmine Jackson, Ariana Stevens, and Jae Jackson led Delaware State with eight kills each.  Ayanna Lee, topped the Hornets with a career-high 21 digs, tops among all players.

Delaware State had 20 blocks in the contest, its second-best total of the season. Ariana Stevens led the Hornets with six blocks and Jae Jackson tallied five.  

Four players tallied double figures in kills for La Salle. Wilmington native Kelly Perillo and Laura Kuhlmeier led the Explorers with 14 kills each. Jennifer Whelan added 12 kills and Ashley Felton 11 for La Salle.

Perillo also had 12 digs and Kulmeier 10 to post “double-doubles” for the Explorers.

Michelle Healy led all players with 29 assists and Erin Noga topped La Salle with 15 digs. 

Delaware State fell to 1-17 this season, while La Salle improved to 8-16.

The Hornets will play their third match in three days on Tuesday (Oct. 21) at home against Towson. The contest starts at 6 p.m. in Memorial Hall.