Volleyball Racks Up Fourth-Straight Patriot League Victory

Friday, September 30

7 p.m.

Lehigh University

8-9, 4-0PL

Bucknell

2-13, 0-3PL

Bucknell

Lehigh

Volleyball Racks Up Fourth-Straight Patriot League Victory

9/30/2016 11:09:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball remains unbeaten against Patriot League competition following a 3-1 victory over Bucknell on Friday night at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall.

The Mountain Hawks extend their win streak to four matches as they are now 8-9 overall and 4-0 in the Patriot League. The Bison fall to 2-13 on the season with a 0-3 record in the PL. Lehigh extends its win streak to seven-straight matches over Bucknell, including six-straight at home.

Lehigh clinched the match by out-scoring Bucknell 6-2 to close out the fourth set after the two teams were previously tied 19-19. Three of Lehigh's final six points, including the deciding point, came courtesy of Jessica Donaldson who recorded three kills for the Brown and White down the stretch. The freshman finished the match with 18 kills to lead all players.

The Lehigh blockers also played a big factor in winning the fourth set as they compiled five of the team's nine total blocks in the fourth set alone. Lauren Bright stepped up big for the blocking unit as she recorded two solo blocks and an assist in the final set. The freshman finished the match with four total blocks and tied fellow freshman Emily Poole for the team lead on the night.

"I thought Bucknell played very well and we did not have an answer for their attack in the first three sets as evidence of our lack of blocking," said head coach Bob Bertucci. "The difference in game four was our five blocks. We only won by four points, so those blocks made a big difference."

The Mountain Hawks fought through a back-and-forth battle to win the first, 25-21. It was Donaldson who also accounted for three of team's final six points in the first set as Lehigh out-scored Bucknell 6-2 to close out the set. Lehigh looked like the dominate team throughout the second set and broke open a 21-16 lead at one point in the set. The Bison did not go away quietly as they climbed back in it to trail 22-19, but once again Donaldson delivered three kills down the stretch and helped her team take the second set, 25-21.

The third set belonged to Bucknell right from the start as the Bison busted out to a 7-2 lead on three kills combined with four errors by Lehigh. The lead continued to grow as BU extended the lead to 12-8 before a 5-1 Lehigh run cut the deficit to four. The Mountain Hawks would cut the deficit to one point as they trailed 21-20, but the Bison would not be denied as they went on to record three kills and out-score Lehigh 3-1 to finish off the set.

The late surge, combined with the improved blocking effort in the fourth set carried Lehigh to the victory as the Mountain Hawks never led by more than four points at any point in the set.

Sophomore Megan Polak had another outstanding performance as she dished out a match-high 41 assists to go along with seven digs and three kills.

Lehigh received a collective effort on the defensive front as three players reached double-figures in digs. Sophomore Emily Develle led the way with a match-high 18 digs, while senior Mariah Brantley compiled 17 and junior Stephanie Stieber totaled 16.

Lehigh will put its unblemished conference record on the line on Saturday with a trip to Colgate.

"I am anticipating a tough match because Colgate is better than they were last and we are going to have to be on the top of our game," said Bertucci.

Action is slated to get underway at 4 p.m. in Hamilton, N.Y.