Mountain Hawks fall to league-leading American

Saturday, October 10

4 p.m.

Lehigh University

11-9, 4-2PL

American

15-5, 7-0PL

Team	1	2	3	Final F
American	25	29	25	3
Lehigh	17	27	20	0

10/10/2015 6:06:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team couldn't stop hot-hitting American Saturday afternoon inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall as the Eagles captured a 3-0 (25-17, 29-27, 25-20) victory over the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh falls to 4-2 in league play and 11-9 overall with the loss, while American remains undefeated (7-0) in Patriot League play with the win.

(10/10/2015) Volleyball vs. American, 10/10/15

"It was a very well-played game on both sides," said head coach Bob Bertucci. "Our girls did a good job all-around with some great rallies and competitiveness. We played at a higher level, we just have to be able to go up another level to beat a very good, experienced team like American.

Senior Leah Turner led Lehigh with 19 kills, while classmate Stephanie Slater followed with 13. Junior Mariah Brantley registered a team-best 19 digs, while senior Amy Matula dished a squad-leading 35 assists. Three Eagles tallied double-digit kills to lead an American squad that hit .323 for the match compared to Lehigh's .190 hitting percentage.

Lehigh held an early 3-1 lead in the opening set, but a 7-2 American run gave the Eagles an 8-5 advantage. American eventually extended its lead to 17-10 and Lehigh wouldn't get closer than six the rest of the way as a Kristyna Lindovska service ace eventually gave Eagles set point at 25-17.

The Mountain Hawks got out to an 8-6 advantage in the second set, but a 5-0 American run put the Eagles in front 11-8. American worked its lead to six at 19-13, but Lehigh battled back with a 9-3 run thanks to three kills apiece from Turner and Slater to cut the Eagles' lead to one at 23-22. With the match tied at 24, 25, 26 and 27, it was American who was able to notch back-to-back points first with a kill from Loren McKenzie and a Lindovska service ace to grab a 29-27 set-two win and 2-0 match advantage.

The third set began in a 7-7 tie and Lehigh was able to pull ahead 13-11 thanks to kills from three different Mountain Hawks. The Eagles responded with a 4-0 run to reclaim the lead at 15-13. A kill from Slater helped Lehigh tie it at 16-16, but the Eagles offense was too much for Lehigh to handle the rest of the way as five kills helped American to a 25-20 set-three win and 3-0 match victory.

The Mountain Hawks return to action Tuesday at Fordham before getting back to Patriot League play next weekend at Army West Point and Holy Cross.

Like Lehigh volleyball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates and team content throughout the season.