Saturday, October 30
Baltimore, Md.
4 p.m.

Lehigh University

at

Loyola (Md.)

Emily Stewart
Photo by: Hannahally Photography

Lehigh begins four-match road trip at Navy and Loyola Maryland

10/28/2021 2:31:00 PM | Volleyball

UPDATE (10/29 at 12:30 p.m.): Friday night's match at Navy has been postponed until Sunday at 2 p.m. Saturday's match at Loyola will take place as scheduled.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Every match from here on out is certainly becoming more and more important as the Lehigh volleyball team begins its four-match road trip on Friday evening, visiting Navy at 7 p.m. before hitting the road to nearby Baltimore on Saturday, taking on Loyola Maryland at 4 p.m. The Mountain Hawks (6-16, 2-9 PL) are winless over their last five matches, without a win since a 3-1 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Oct. 5. Lehigh's last Patriot League win came at home vs. Navy on Oct. 2.
 
With just five matches left to be played on the 2021 regular season slate, the margin for error is slim to get into a position to contend for a spot in the Patriot League Tournament. As of right now, the Mountain Hawks sit in a tie for eighth position with Bucknell, three games behind sixth-place Navy and four games behind fifth-place Loyola.
 
While the Mountain Hawks haven't won a match in nearly a month, the fight has certainly been there, evident by Lehigh's persistence against Colgate on Saturday afternoon in a four-set defeat. A second set win and an emotional fourth set that finished 28-26 in favor of the Raiders showed Lehigh's grittiness in the face of adversity. It was also a strong showing for the seniors in their Senior Day match as fifth year Sabrina Lancaster finished with a team-high 14 kills and Ava Hudson added 11.
 
Though not putting up the numbers she was accumulating earlier in the season, freshman Megan Schulte continues to pace Lehigh in kills at 240. She finished with 11 against Army West Point on Friday and seven against Colgate on Saturday. Schulte has registered 10 or more kills on 13 occasions this year.
 
Freshman Makena Smith's 634 assists lead the way, though splitting time with sophomore Sarah Burau as of late, who is second on the team with 178.
 
Defensively, freshman libero Kyleigh Brown (262 digs) and sophomore Ally Thaw (220) have totaled 482 of Lehigh's 1,184 digs this season. Brown's 3.05 digs per set is team-high statistic. Freshman Emily Stewart has been magnificent in her rookie season with 89 total blocks, averaging 1.01 per set. Sophomore Sophia Meagher is second with 58 and Schulte has added 46.
 
Navy is chugging along this season looking to punch its ticket to the tournament as the Midshipmen (9-11, 5-6 PL) are coming off a tough four-set defeat to American on Sunday in D.C. Navy dropped the first set 27-25 and the second before coming back to win the third 25-20 and fell in the fourth. Jordan Llewellyn led the team with 14 kills, while Averi Miller finished with 36 assists, Kimberly Lynch had 11 digs and Anna Klemeyer finished with three blocks.
 
Maggie Bodman is Navy's leader in hitting percentage this season at .255, which is also good for ninth in the Patriot League. She's also ranked eighth in the league in blocks per set at 0.87 with 62 to her credit. Jamie Llewellyn leads the league in service aces per set at 0.43 with 28 this season.
 
Lehigh topped Navy in five sets back on Oct. 2 in Bethlehem, the team's first victory over the Mids since 2017. Navy leads the all-time series, 36-29.
 
Loyola Maryland is still trying to find ways to be the consistent team it was when facing the Mountain Hawks the last time out. The Greyhounds (14-7, 6-4 PL) are still fighting their way back to the top of the league currently stuck in fifth position, a game ahead of Navy. Loyola has dropped two consecutive matches, a five-set loss to American on Saturday and a four-set defeat against Navy on Friday. It takes on Lafayette on Friday evening, as the Leopards have already clinched one of the six spots for the Patriot League Tournament.
 
Senior libero Katie Forsythe made history her last time out at AU, becoming the Patriot League's all-time leader in digs, finishing with 33 to boost her career total to 2,044. Her 424 this season leads the league and is averaging 5.73 digs per set.
 
As for other statistical leaders, Cecylia Guye is third in the league in attacking at .292, while Abby Hamilton ranks second with 4.23 kills per set and Kacy Sekunda is third with 678 assists.
 
Loyola topped Lehigh, 3-1 back on Oct. 1 at Grace Hall. Lylah Washington led the Mountain Hawks with 19 kills and Abby Hamilton finished with 21 for the Greyhounds.
 
Lehigh leads the all-time series between the two teams, 20-5.
 
Saturday's matchup at Loyola Maryland will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required). Video will not be provided on Friday at Navy, but live stats will be made available.
 
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebookfollow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
 
 
 
 
 

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