Lehigh captures first 3-0 win over Colgate in program history

Saturday, November 9

Hamilton, NY

3:00 PM

Lehigh University

19-7, 10-4PL

Colgate

20-7, 12-2PL

Team	1	2	3	Final F
LEHIGH	25	25	26	3
COLGATE	22	20	24	0

Lehigh captures first 3-0 win over Colgate in program history

11/9/2013 5:16:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Lehigh volleyball team captured its first straight set win over Colgate in program history in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon. The first-place Raiders had clinched a berth in the Patriot League Tournament on Friday night but the Mountain Hawks limited Colgate's attack to just .119 to capture Lehigh's 20th win of the season. The win marked the second time this season that Lehigh captured a victory over a team it lost to in the first half of Patriot League play, with the first time being a 3-2 win over Army on Oct. 26.

"Our hitting is getting better and we served very aggressively today," said head coach Bob Bertucci. "Our serving caused Colgate some trouble because it helped take them out of the offense. Our outside hitters, Jade and Kaylynn, did a fantastic job today."

Two kills from senior Courtney McCutchan and three service aces from sophomore Claire Bradshaw helped the Mountain Hawks to a 6-0 start in the first set. The Raiders responded with a 5-1 run to trip the Lehigh lead to 7-5. The Mountain Hawks led 9-7 before a 7-1 Lehigh run enhanced the lead to 16-8. After the Mountain Hawks had a 20-13 lead the Raiders picked up speed to tally four straight points as part of a 7-2 run that helped them trail by only two at 22-20. The early deficit was too much for Colgate to overcome as a kill from sophomore Kaylynn Genemaras eventually put the set away 25-22 in favor of Lehigh. McCutchan and Genemaras each tallied five kills in the victorious opening set.

The Mountain Hawks were down 5-2 in the early goings of the second set before three straight Lehigh points knotted the score at five. After five tie scores, Lehigh eventually grabbed an 18-16 lead. The Raiders got one point back but a kill from junior Jade Van Streepen and a Colgate attack error gave Lehigh a 20-17 lead and forced a Raider timeout. Each team scored three points out of the timeout as Lehigh kept the three point lead at 23-20. A Genemaras kill and Colgate attack error followed to give the Mountain Hawks a 25-20 set two win and 2-0 match victory.

The teams were tied at four at the beginning of the third set before Lehigh let loose on a 8-2 run that included four straight points to take a 12-6 lead. The Mountain Hawks led 16-9 before three straight Colgate points trimmed the lead to 16-12 and forced a Lehigh timeout. Colgate scored two consecutive points before Lehigh answered with two of its own to take an 18-14 lead and force a Raiders timeout. Colgate responded with a 4-1 run to cut the lead to 19-18. The Raiders kept fighting and eventually tied the score at 22, 23 and 24 before a kill from sophomore Ana Vrhel and a Colgate attack error stopped the Raiders' rally and gave the Mountain Hawks the 26-24 set victory.

Van Streepen tallied 11 kills, followed by McCutchan and Vrhel with six apiece. Vrhel hit .308 while also stuffing four blocks. Senior Rachel Charles tallied 22 kills while sophomore Amy Matula notched 34 assists.

The Mountain Hawks will play their final game of the regular season next Friday, Nov. 15, at American.

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