Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry continues
9/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Bethlehem, PA – Fresh off the heels off a three game sweep of non-league opponent Wagner, Lehigh gears up to return to Patriot League play against arch-rival Lafayette.
The Mountain Hawks have managed eight wins in their last nine matches, with the lone setback coming last week to American at Grace Hall. Meanwhile the Leopards are having a down year, dropping their past 10 matches and 18 of 19 overall. Thus far, other than Patriot League foes, Lehigh and Lafayette share three common opponents. Lafayette has fallen to Rider, Loyola, and Drexel, while Lehigh has gone 1-2 against those opponents, defeating Rider.
Lehigh head coach Patrick Nicholas along with his players, are close to, or have reached several milestones this season. Nicholas began this season with a career 82-65 record and has added 14 more wins to that total. Heading into the Lafayette match, Nicholas needs only four wins to reach the 100-win plateau. Along with the Nicholas milestone, is that of Rochelle Healea. Healea recently attained her 1000th dig as well becoming Lehigh’s all-time attack-attempts leader. In the coming matches, the senior from Vancouver, Washington should break the long-standing record for career kills. Her season total of 263 puts her 61 kills shy of tying the mark of Kelly Kramer (1991-94). Jeanette Singleton also reached a milestone this season, topping the 500 career digs mark. Her season total of 213 gives her a career total of 671, good enough for 15th place on Lehigh’s all-time list.
Last season Lehigh defeated Lafayette 3-0 on two different occasions. The Mountain Hawks are 10-1 vs. the Leopards, dating back to a 3-2 loss at Lafayette on September 26, 1996. Since 1997 Lafayette has not won a single game against Lehigh.
Tonight’s match begins at 7:00 p.m. and can be heard live on the Lehigh website at www.lehigh.edu.
For more information, contact Mike Garland, Sports Media Relations Assistant.
Posted October 18, 2002.
