Friday, August 24
Bethlehem, Pa.
7:30 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Duquesne
Mountain Hawks to host Duquesne Friday in season-opener
8/23/2018 10:17:00 AM | Volleyball
Live Stats - Duquesne
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team will usher in the Alexa Keckler era Friday night when the Mountain Hawks welcome Duquesne to Stabler Arena with first serve set for 7:30 p.m. Lehigh's opening weekend will be capped by a 3 p.m. match against Saint Peter's Monday at Lafayette's Kirby Sports Center.
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Keckler takes over a Lehigh team that has made six Patriot League Tournament appearances in the last seven years. Last year the Mountain Hawks went 18-13 overall and returned to the PLT as the No. 4 seed after a one-year hiatus.
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Lehigh was picked second in the Patriot League's preseason poll with a wealth of talent and depth returning. Offensively, the Mountain Hawks' top eight players in terms of kills last season return, led by Preseason All-Patriot League selection Ana Spangenberg. Both Spangenberg and classmate Lauren Bright were All-Patriot League honorees following the 2017 season. Spangenberg and Bright will serve as captains along with senior libero Emily Develle, who racked up 476 digs a season ago.
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Setter Megan Polak (975 assists, 217 digs) joins Develle as seniors who will be relied upon for major contributions, while bringing along the younger players.
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Duquesne went 13-16 a season ago and finished fourth in the Atlantic 10, reaching the A-10 quarterfinals. The Dukes were picked fourth in this year's Atlantic 10 preseason poll. Duquesne returns a pair of All-Atlantic 10 honorees in second team A-10 setter Dani Suiter and all-rookie selection Maria Mosbacher.
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The Dukes have claimed all six meetings against Lehigh with the most recent meeting being a 3-0 Duquesne victory in the 2010 season-opener for both teams at Duquesne's Courtyard by Marriott Invitational.
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This year marks the second straight season that Lehigh will open its season with matches at Stabler Arena. Lehigh hosted the Lehigh Fall Classic at Stabler Arena last August, going 2-2 to open its 2017 campaign.
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Live stats will be available for Friday's Lehigh-Duquesne match.
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On Monday, Lehigh will make the short trek to Easton to face Saint Peter's. The Peacocks enter their opening weekend at the Bucknell Invitational looking to snap a 58 match losing streak that dates back to November 2015. Saint Peter's returns 10 letter winners from last season and will play three matches at Bucknell before Monday matches with Lehigh and Lafayette.
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Lehigh is 16-4 all-time versus Saint Peter's. The Mountain Hawks have beaten the Peacocks 3-0 in each of the last five seasons, and have won seven straight in the series.
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Following the two matches this weekend, Lehigh will welcome Rutgers, Rider, Manhattan and Coppin State to Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall as part of the Crosstown Invitational Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team will usher in the Alexa Keckler era Friday night when the Mountain Hawks welcome Duquesne to Stabler Arena with first serve set for 7:30 p.m. Lehigh's opening weekend will be capped by a 3 p.m. match against Saint Peter's Monday at Lafayette's Kirby Sports Center.
Â
Keckler takes over a Lehigh team that has made six Patriot League Tournament appearances in the last seven years. Last year the Mountain Hawks went 18-13 overall and returned to the PLT as the No. 4 seed after a one-year hiatus.
Â
Lehigh was picked second in the Patriot League's preseason poll with a wealth of talent and depth returning. Offensively, the Mountain Hawks' top eight players in terms of kills last season return, led by Preseason All-Patriot League selection Ana Spangenberg. Both Spangenberg and classmate Lauren Bright were All-Patriot League honorees following the 2017 season. Spangenberg and Bright will serve as captains along with senior libero Emily Develle, who racked up 476 digs a season ago.
Â
Setter Megan Polak (975 assists, 217 digs) joins Develle as seniors who will be relied upon for major contributions, while bringing along the younger players.
Â
Duquesne went 13-16 a season ago and finished fourth in the Atlantic 10, reaching the A-10 quarterfinals. The Dukes were picked fourth in this year's Atlantic 10 preseason poll. Duquesne returns a pair of All-Atlantic 10 honorees in second team A-10 setter Dani Suiter and all-rookie selection Maria Mosbacher.
Â
The Dukes have claimed all six meetings against Lehigh with the most recent meeting being a 3-0 Duquesne victory in the 2010 season-opener for both teams at Duquesne's Courtyard by Marriott Invitational.
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This year marks the second straight season that Lehigh will open its season with matches at Stabler Arena. Lehigh hosted the Lehigh Fall Classic at Stabler Arena last August, going 2-2 to open its 2017 campaign.
Â
Live stats will be available for Friday's Lehigh-Duquesne match.
Â
On Monday, Lehigh will make the short trek to Easton to face Saint Peter's. The Peacocks enter their opening weekend at the Bucknell Invitational looking to snap a 58 match losing streak that dates back to November 2015. Saint Peter's returns 10 letter winners from last season and will play three matches at Bucknell before Monday matches with Lehigh and Lafayette.
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Lehigh is 16-4 all-time versus Saint Peter's. The Mountain Hawks have beaten the Peacocks 3-0 in each of the last five seasons, and have won seven straight in the series.
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Following the two matches this weekend, Lehigh will welcome Rutgers, Rider, Manhattan and Coppin State to Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall as part of the Crosstown Invitational Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
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Players Mentioned
MB
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RS
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