Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, November 18
Washington, D.C.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
American University
Lehigh Set to Face American in Patriot League Semifinal
11/17/2017 12:43:00 PM | Volleyball
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | WATCH | TICKETS
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2017 Patriot League Volleyball Championship begins Saturday as fourth-seeded Lehigh visits No. 1 seed and host American. The Lehigh-American semifinal round match is set to begin at 2 p.m. inside Bender Arena. All matches throughout the championship will be streamed live for free on the Patriot League Network. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event or in advance online. Admission is free to those with a valid student I.D.
The Mountain Hawks (18-12, 9-7) are making their 21st appearance in the Patriot League postseason, including their sixth in the last seven years. They will face the Eagles (24-7, 15-1) who will be looking to win their fifth-straight Patriot League title and 15th total since joining the league in 2001.
Lehigh clinched a postseason berth when Colgate lost to American in the final week of the regular season to give Lehigh the tiebreaker over the Raiders. The Mountain Hawks put themselves in position for a postseason spot with a 5-3 record in the first half of the Patriot League regular season and essentially secured a postseason spot with a crucial 3-2 victory over No. 2 seed Navy in the home finale at Grace Hall.
American enters the postseason as the No. 1 seed for the 15th time in their 17-year stint in the Patriot League. After falling to Navy, 3-1, in their second league match of the season, the Eagles went on to win 14-straight league matches to end the regular season on their way to their 17th-straight Patriot League postseason appearance.
Saturday's match will feature six All-Patriot League honorees, in addition to the Patriot League Player of the Year and Libero of the Year. Sophomores Ana Spangenberg and Lauren Bright represent the Brown White's All-League performers. Spangenberg ranks second in the league in total kills (388) and third in kills per set (3.66). Bright ranks eighth in the league with a .312 hitting percentage, while ranking third in total blocks (114) and fourth in blocks per set (1.08).
Two-time defending Player of the Year and All-League honoree, Aleksandra Kazala of American, leads the league with 493 kills and 4.70 kills per set, while ranking seventh in the league with a .313 hitting percentage. She is joined by fellow All-League teammates Helena Elbaek, Kennedy Etheridge and Vela McBride. Etheridge ranks fourth in the league in assists (880) and assists per set (8.63), while McBride leads the league in hitting percentage (.422) and ranks sixth in blocks per set (0.98). Kristen Largay was named the Libero of the Year as she ranks second in digs (489) and third in digs per set (4.37).
The Mountain Hawks and Eagles have faced each other three times in the Patriot League Tournament with the Eagles owning a 3-0 record. The teams last squared off in the 2014 championship match with American claiming a 3-0 victory.
Lehigh is 19-20 all-time in Patriot League postseason play. American boasts a record of 30-2 and is currently riding an eight-match win streak in postseason league play.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2017 Patriot League Volleyball Championship begins Saturday as fourth-seeded Lehigh visits No. 1 seed and host American. The Lehigh-American semifinal round match is set to begin at 2 p.m. inside Bender Arena. All matches throughout the championship will be streamed live for free on the Patriot League Network. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event or in advance online. Admission is free to those with a valid student I.D.
The Mountain Hawks (18-12, 9-7) are making their 21st appearance in the Patriot League postseason, including their sixth in the last seven years. They will face the Eagles (24-7, 15-1) who will be looking to win their fifth-straight Patriot League title and 15th total since joining the league in 2001.
Lehigh clinched a postseason berth when Colgate lost to American in the final week of the regular season to give Lehigh the tiebreaker over the Raiders. The Mountain Hawks put themselves in position for a postseason spot with a 5-3 record in the first half of the Patriot League regular season and essentially secured a postseason spot with a crucial 3-2 victory over No. 2 seed Navy in the home finale at Grace Hall.
American enters the postseason as the No. 1 seed for the 15th time in their 17-year stint in the Patriot League. After falling to Navy, 3-1, in their second league match of the season, the Eagles went on to win 14-straight league matches to end the regular season on their way to their 17th-straight Patriot League postseason appearance.
Saturday's match will feature six All-Patriot League honorees, in addition to the Patriot League Player of the Year and Libero of the Year. Sophomores Ana Spangenberg and Lauren Bright represent the Brown White's All-League performers. Spangenberg ranks second in the league in total kills (388) and third in kills per set (3.66). Bright ranks eighth in the league with a .312 hitting percentage, while ranking third in total blocks (114) and fourth in blocks per set (1.08).
Two-time defending Player of the Year and All-League honoree, Aleksandra Kazala of American, leads the league with 493 kills and 4.70 kills per set, while ranking seventh in the league with a .313 hitting percentage. She is joined by fellow All-League teammates Helena Elbaek, Kennedy Etheridge and Vela McBride. Etheridge ranks fourth in the league in assists (880) and assists per set (8.63), while McBride leads the league in hitting percentage (.422) and ranks sixth in blocks per set (0.98). Kristen Largay was named the Libero of the Year as she ranks second in digs (489) and third in digs per set (4.37).
The Mountain Hawks and Eagles have faced each other three times in the Patriot League Tournament with the Eagles owning a 3-0 record. The teams last squared off in the 2014 championship match with American claiming a 3-0 victory.
Lehigh is 19-20 all-time in Patriot League postseason play. American boasts a record of 30-2 and is currently riding an eight-match win streak in postseason league play.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
RS
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