Bison stage comeback to beat Lehigh in five sets

Friday, November 5

Lewisburg, Pa.

7 p.m.

Lehigh University

7-18,3-11Patriot

Bucknell

7-16,3-11Patriot

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Lehigh	25	22	25	23	10	2
Bucknell	15	25	23	25	15	3

Bucknell Spectator Protocol

Photo by: Hannahally Photography

Bison stage comeback to beat Lehigh in five sets

11/5/2021 10:45:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team went up 2-1 after three sets, but couldn't hang on to the lead as Bucknell came back to win in five sets (25-15, 22-25, 25-23, 23-25, 10-15) Friday evening at Davis Gym. The Mountain Hawks (7-18, 3-11 PL) were led by freshman Megan Schulte with 14 kills and freshman setter Makena Smith, who had a career night with 27 assists and 19 digs.

Lehigh opened the first set on a 15-10 run heading into the media timeout followed by a Lylah Washington kill. A 6-2 push had the Mountain Hawks up 21-12 and they held on for the 25-15 win.

It was an eventful first set as Lehigh hit .455 as a team with 17 kills and only two errors.

After struggling in the first, Bucknell opened the second set with an 8-3 edge causing the Mountain Hawks to spend a timeout. After trailing 10-4, Lehigh fought back on a 13-5 run to take a 17-15 lead over the Bison. However, Bucknell fought back to win 10 of the next 15 points to win the set 25-22 and even the match at one set apiece.

Lehigh and Bucknell fought neck-and-neck into the third set with neither team really giving an inch until the Mountain Hawks used three consecutive Bison attack errors and a Sarah Burau service ace to surge ahead, 17-14. The Bison came within one point of tying the set up, but Lehigh held on for the victory after a big kill from Schulte.

Leading 2-1 and one set away from getting the four-set victory over the Bison, the Mountain Hawks looked to be in control from the jump. Five straight points had Lehigh leading, 9-4 and it led 13-7 just a few points later. A run of 6-1 had Bucknell within one at 15-14, but Lehigh pushed back with four straight to take a 19-14 lead. The Bison claimed seven of the next nine to tie the set at 21-21 and went on a 4-1 run to close it, taking the set 25-23 and forcing a decisive fifth set.

Lehigh opened the fifth set with a 3-1 lead, but that was the last time it was out in front as Bucknell brought the fight to re-take the lead at 4-3. The set tied a few more times before the Bison, ahead 10-8, when on a 5-2 push to close it out, completing the comeback with the 15-10 victory.

The Mountain Hawks hit .152 as a team for the match with 58 kills and 28 errors. They out-blocked Bucknell, 10-4 and had seven aces from the service line.

Schulte's 14 kills were a team-high, while Lylah Washington added 13, Sabrina Lancaster had 10 and Ava Hudson finished with nine. Smith's 27 assists and 19 digs led the team, but Kyleigh Brown had a team-high 21 digs to her credit. Schulte and Sophia Meagher led the way with five blocks each, while Emily Stewart added four and Washington had three.

The Mountain Hawks play their final road match of the season on Saturday at archrival Lafayette at 4 p.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).

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