Friday, August 30
Columbus, Ohio
12:00 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Ohio State
Photo by: Brent Hugo
Lehigh to take on Ohio State, VCU and Texas Tech in Columbus this weekend
8/29/2019 3:44:00 PM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh volleyball is eager to kick off the 2019 season in style, as the Mountain Hawks visit Columbus, Ohio for the Sports Imports Classic hosted by Ohio State. Lehigh takes on the Buckeyes at noon on Friday, followed by VCU at 5:30 p.m. Then on Saturday, Lehigh will take on Texas Tech at the Covelli Center to wrap up the weekend.
This is the second straight year Lehigh is taking on a team out of the Big Ten (Rutgers) and the first time since taking on TCU in 2017, that the Mountain Hawks have an opponent from the Big 12.
Lehigh started last season on an incredibly high note, going 11-1 in non-league play to open up the season before going 9-7 in Patriot League play, missing out on making the tournament for the second time in three years.
This year, Lehigh has a challenging non-league schedule starting with the three upcoming opponents this season, and should prepare the team nicely for tough Patriot League competition throughout the season.
The Mountain Hawks return a majority of the starting lineup, stock-piled with talented upperclassmen that have proved that they can compete on the court.
2018 Second Team All-Patriot League selection, senior Emily Poole and Lauren Bright return to the squad for 2019. Poole and Bright are considered two of the more dominant impacts on both the offensive and defensive sides of the court. Out of all returning players in the Patriot League, Poole returns as the league's best total blocker with 128 and hitter with a .315 hitting percentage. Bright is also on the list ranked second in both categories with a .297 hitting percentage and 118 total blocks a season ago.
The other Second Team All-Patriot League selection returning to Lehigh is junior Hannah Wright, who finished second on the team with 283 kills, fourth with 161 digs and third in blocks with 75. Wright was the only other member of the team, aside from Ana Spangenberg, to be named a Patriot League Player of the Week after she recorded a season-high 20 kills at Lafayette on Nov. 4 of last season. Wright will see most of her time this season as the team's primary right-side hitter, while junior Sabrina Lancaster comes back as a key outside hitter after leading the team with 314 kills lasts season.
Of all returning players in the Patriot League, sophomore setter Alina Lam was ranked third with her 688 assists last season. Lam was a Patriot League Rookie of the Week selection twice. Lam will have competition for the job with fellow sophomore Sarah Carman, who registered 33 assists last season and has received many reps this preseason heading into the upcoming season slate.
The libero position may be the most interesting position battle heading into the upcoming season after the graduation of Emily Develle, the program's all-time digs leader. Senior Jess Donaldson will begin her journey as the team's libero in 2019, but junior Allison Garrett and freshman Natalie Mavroidis will continue to challenge for the position, just another area of depth for the Mountain Hawks.
Ohio State comes into the new season after a disappointing 2018 campaign, going 12-20 overall with a 3-17 record inside the Big Ten. The Buckeyes ended last season on a 12-match losing streak. Ohio State has not finished above .500 since the 2016 season. This weekend will be the Buckeyes' first at the new Covelli Center, which is the new home of seven varsity sports. This will be just the second time Lehigh has faced off with OSU, the last time dating back to 2006, where Ohio State emerged victorious in three sets.
VCU is coming off a very successful 2018 season that saw it go 19-9 overall and 13-1 in Atlantic 10 play. The Rams fell to Dayton in the A-10 Conference Championship match in five sets. VCU was picked second in 2019 and return five starters including AVCA All-East Region and All-America honorable mention Jazmin Sneed. She ranked fourth nationally in blocks per set (1.70). Also returning for the Rams are All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honorees Vicky Giommarini and Gina Tuzzolo. The Rams are just two years removed from their second league title in program history. The Mountain Hawks 0-3 all-time against VCU, the last matchup coming in 1994, where the Rams won 3-1 over Lehigh, who was defending its Patriot League title from 1993.
Lehigh's final opponent for the weekend is Texas Tech, which will be the first-ever meeting between the programs. The Red Raiders had an overall record of 17-13 one season ago with a Big 12 record of 6-10. There are many returnees for Texas Tech in 2019 including All-Big 12 honorees Emily Hill and Brooke Kanas. Seven freshmen will make their debuts with the Red Raiders including sophomore transfer Tatum Rohme.
The Mountain Hawks' match against Ohio State will be streamed live on BTN+ (subscription required) at noon Friday while live stats will be provided for all three weekend matches.
This weekend will prepare Lehigh for next weekend, when the Mountain Hawks, along with Lafayette, host the Crosstown Invitational at Grace Hall, taking on Penn, Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware State and Manhattan.
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
This is the second straight year Lehigh is taking on a team out of the Big Ten (Rutgers) and the first time since taking on TCU in 2017, that the Mountain Hawks have an opponent from the Big 12.
Lehigh started last season on an incredibly high note, going 11-1 in non-league play to open up the season before going 9-7 in Patriot League play, missing out on making the tournament for the second time in three years.
This year, Lehigh has a challenging non-league schedule starting with the three upcoming opponents this season, and should prepare the team nicely for tough Patriot League competition throughout the season.
The Mountain Hawks return a majority of the starting lineup, stock-piled with talented upperclassmen that have proved that they can compete on the court.
2018 Second Team All-Patriot League selection, senior Emily Poole and Lauren Bright return to the squad for 2019. Poole and Bright are considered two of the more dominant impacts on both the offensive and defensive sides of the court. Out of all returning players in the Patriot League, Poole returns as the league's best total blocker with 128 and hitter with a .315 hitting percentage. Bright is also on the list ranked second in both categories with a .297 hitting percentage and 118 total blocks a season ago.
The other Second Team All-Patriot League selection returning to Lehigh is junior Hannah Wright, who finished second on the team with 283 kills, fourth with 161 digs and third in blocks with 75. Wright was the only other member of the team, aside from Ana Spangenberg, to be named a Patriot League Player of the Week after she recorded a season-high 20 kills at Lafayette on Nov. 4 of last season. Wright will see most of her time this season as the team's primary right-side hitter, while junior Sabrina Lancaster comes back as a key outside hitter after leading the team with 314 kills lasts season.
Of all returning players in the Patriot League, sophomore setter Alina Lam was ranked third with her 688 assists last season. Lam was a Patriot League Rookie of the Week selection twice. Lam will have competition for the job with fellow sophomore Sarah Carman, who registered 33 assists last season and has received many reps this preseason heading into the upcoming season slate.
The libero position may be the most interesting position battle heading into the upcoming season after the graduation of Emily Develle, the program's all-time digs leader. Senior Jess Donaldson will begin her journey as the team's libero in 2019, but junior Allison Garrett and freshman Natalie Mavroidis will continue to challenge for the position, just another area of depth for the Mountain Hawks.
Ohio State comes into the new season after a disappointing 2018 campaign, going 12-20 overall with a 3-17 record inside the Big Ten. The Buckeyes ended last season on a 12-match losing streak. Ohio State has not finished above .500 since the 2016 season. This weekend will be the Buckeyes' first at the new Covelli Center, which is the new home of seven varsity sports. This will be just the second time Lehigh has faced off with OSU, the last time dating back to 2006, where Ohio State emerged victorious in three sets.
VCU is coming off a very successful 2018 season that saw it go 19-9 overall and 13-1 in Atlantic 10 play. The Rams fell to Dayton in the A-10 Conference Championship match in five sets. VCU was picked second in 2019 and return five starters including AVCA All-East Region and All-America honorable mention Jazmin Sneed. She ranked fourth nationally in blocks per set (1.70). Also returning for the Rams are All-Atlantic 10 Second Team honorees Vicky Giommarini and Gina Tuzzolo. The Rams are just two years removed from their second league title in program history. The Mountain Hawks 0-3 all-time against VCU, the last matchup coming in 1994, where the Rams won 3-1 over Lehigh, who was defending its Patriot League title from 1993.
Lehigh's final opponent for the weekend is Texas Tech, which will be the first-ever meeting between the programs. The Red Raiders had an overall record of 17-13 one season ago with a Big 12 record of 6-10. There are many returnees for Texas Tech in 2019 including All-Big 12 honorees Emily Hill and Brooke Kanas. Seven freshmen will make their debuts with the Red Raiders including sophomore transfer Tatum Rohme.
The Mountain Hawks' match against Ohio State will be streamed live on BTN+ (subscription required) at noon Friday while live stats will be provided for all three weekend matches.
This weekend will prepare Lehigh for next weekend, when the Mountain Hawks, along with Lafayette, host the Crosstown Invitational at Grace Hall, taking on Penn, Maryland Eastern Shore, Delaware State and Manhattan.
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
RS
/ Volleyball
RS/OH
/ VolleyballVolleyball vs. Holy Cross
Saturday, November 08
VB vs. Loyola
Friday, October 10
Volleyball vs. American
Saturday, October 04
Mountain Hawk Talk - S2 EP2 - Volleyball
Friday, September 26
