Lehigh University Athletics
Tuesday, October 5
Teaneck, N.J.
7 p.m.
Lehigh University
6-11,2-4Patriot
3
at
1
Fairleigh Dickinson
5-13,0-4NEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson | 26 | 11 | 19 | 17 | 1 |
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Mountain Hawks bounce back to defeat FDU in four sets
10/5/2021 11:28:00 PM | Volleyball
TEANECK, N.J. – The Lehigh volleyball team bounced back from a close first-set loss to cruise over the next three and beat Fairleigh Dickinson in four sets (24-26, 25-11, 25-19, 25-17) on Tuesday evening. A trio of Mountain Hawks each had double-digit kills, led by 17 from freshman Megan Schulte – 16 coming over the final three sets. The win marks Lehigh's second straight after an impressive home win over Navy on Saturday. It also marks the Mountain Hawks' first road victory of the season.
"We got a pretty slow start and were kind of flat coming out of the gate," said head coach Alexa Keckler. "We weren't necessarily executing the way we needed to and then after the first set, we really stepped it up from the service line and offensively, we got our middles and right side going. We created the tempo of the match at that point which really turned the tables."
Along with Schulte's 17 kills, sophomore Lylah Washington had a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs. Fifth-year Sabrina Lancaster finished with 10 kills.
The Knights used an early 5-0 first-set run to turn a 3-3 tie into an 8-3 lead. Lehigh later responded with five in a row, capped off by four consecutive kills from Washington, to quickly pull even at nine. FDU later used a 6-1 run to again create some separation and take a 17-12 advantage, but the Mountain Hawks again answered. Consecutive kills and an attack error rounded out a 5-1 run to pull Lehigh back within 18-17. Trailing 21-19, the Mountain Hawks reeled off three consecutive points, with two straight Makena Smith kills putting Lehigh ahead 22-21 – its first lead since 2-1. However, not long after, FDU used back-to-back points to wrap up the 26-24 first-set victory.
Lehigh came out in the second set with a vengeance, using an 8-0 run to turn a 4-2 lead into 10-2 following a Lancaster kill. FDU later pulled within 12-7 and 16-8, but the Mountain Hawks erased any doubt with an 8-1 run to take a 22-9 advantage, on the way to the 25-11 final.
The third set was closer. The Knights held early leads of 4-2, 6-3 and 7-4 before the Mountain Hawks responded in a big way. Lehigh posted nine of the next 12 points, which included two kills apiece from Schulte and Washington, to take a 13-10 advantage. FDU posted the next five, but the Mountain Hawks ran away with 11 of the next 12, including four kills from Schulte, for a 24-16 lead on the way to the 25-19 set two victory.
Like it had for much or the night, FDU opened early leads in the fourth set, but like they had all night, the Mountain Hawks responded. Tied at six, seven and eight, Lehigh posted six in a row, capped off by a Washington kill, to take a 15-9 lead. The Mountain Hawks' lead wouldn't get any less than four the rest of the way. Two service aces – with a Washington kill sandwiched in between – gave Lehigh the 25-17 fourth-set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Lehigh finished the night hitting .263, including .333 in the second set and .324 in the third. FDU finished at .063. Freshman Makena Smith tallied 44 assists while sophomore Ally Thaw posted a game-high 20 digs. Sophomore Sophia Meagher had a team-high four blocks.
"We're getting some really good offense right now from multiple contributors," said Keckler. "So as long as that's happening, I think we can be tough to defend and so for us right now, it's about getting back defensively and being relentless in defense and making the next steps from the service line."
Tessa Fisk led FDU with 10 blocks while Hannah Schmidt tallied a team-high 16 assists and Allegra Rivas led the Knights in digs (16).
The Mountain Hawks are now set for a pair of Patriot League contests this weekend, hosting American on Friday (7 p.m.) before traveling to Holy Cross on Sunday (2 p.m.).
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
"We got a pretty slow start and were kind of flat coming out of the gate," said head coach Alexa Keckler. "We weren't necessarily executing the way we needed to and then after the first set, we really stepped it up from the service line and offensively, we got our middles and right side going. We created the tempo of the match at that point which really turned the tables."
Along with Schulte's 17 kills, sophomore Lylah Washington had a double-double with 11 kills and 15 digs. Fifth-year Sabrina Lancaster finished with 10 kills.
The Knights used an early 5-0 first-set run to turn a 3-3 tie into an 8-3 lead. Lehigh later responded with five in a row, capped off by four consecutive kills from Washington, to quickly pull even at nine. FDU later used a 6-1 run to again create some separation and take a 17-12 advantage, but the Mountain Hawks again answered. Consecutive kills and an attack error rounded out a 5-1 run to pull Lehigh back within 18-17. Trailing 21-19, the Mountain Hawks reeled off three consecutive points, with two straight Makena Smith kills putting Lehigh ahead 22-21 – its first lead since 2-1. However, not long after, FDU used back-to-back points to wrap up the 26-24 first-set victory.
Lehigh came out in the second set with a vengeance, using an 8-0 run to turn a 4-2 lead into 10-2 following a Lancaster kill. FDU later pulled within 12-7 and 16-8, but the Mountain Hawks erased any doubt with an 8-1 run to take a 22-9 advantage, on the way to the 25-11 final.
The third set was closer. The Knights held early leads of 4-2, 6-3 and 7-4 before the Mountain Hawks responded in a big way. Lehigh posted nine of the next 12 points, which included two kills apiece from Schulte and Washington, to take a 13-10 advantage. FDU posted the next five, but the Mountain Hawks ran away with 11 of the next 12, including four kills from Schulte, for a 24-16 lead on the way to the 25-19 set two victory.
Like it had for much or the night, FDU opened early leads in the fourth set, but like they had all night, the Mountain Hawks responded. Tied at six, seven and eight, Lehigh posted six in a row, capped off by a Washington kill, to take a 15-9 lead. The Mountain Hawks' lead wouldn't get any less than four the rest of the way. Two service aces – with a Washington kill sandwiched in between – gave Lehigh the 25-17 fourth-set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Lehigh finished the night hitting .263, including .333 in the second set and .324 in the third. FDU finished at .063. Freshman Makena Smith tallied 44 assists while sophomore Ally Thaw posted a game-high 20 digs. Sophomore Sophia Meagher had a team-high four blocks.
"We're getting some really good offense right now from multiple contributors," said Keckler. "So as long as that's happening, I think we can be tough to defend and so for us right now, it's about getting back defensively and being relentless in defense and making the next steps from the service line."
Tessa Fisk led FDU with 10 blocks while Hannah Schmidt tallied a team-high 16 assists and Allegra Rivas led the Knights in digs (16).
The Mountain Hawks are now set for a pair of Patriot League contests this weekend, hosting American on Friday (7 p.m.) before traveling to Holy Cross on Sunday (2 p.m.).
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
Lehigh
FDU
Kills
56
35
Errors
20
26
Attempts
137
143
Hitting %
.263
.063
Points
69
47
Assists
53
30
Aces
6
6
Blocks
7
6
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
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