Lehigh completes weekend sweep of Bucknell with convincing 3-0 victory

Sunday, March 14

Bethlehem, Pa.

4 p.m.

Lehigh University

2-4,2-4Patriot

Bucknell

1-3,1-3Patriot

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Bucknell	17	19	14	0
Lehigh	25	25	25	3

Lehigh completes weekend sweep of Bucknell with convincing 3-0 victory

3/14/2021 7:43:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Behind a 16-kill effort from freshman Lylah Washington and double-digit kills from the senior duo of Sabrina Lancaster and Hannah Wright, Lehigh completed a 2-0 weekend against Bucknell with a 3-0 sweep of the Bison Sunday inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall.

The trio combined for 38 of Lehigh's 46 kills on a day where the Mountain Hawks hit .483 as a team. The Mountain Hawks added eight team blocks to improve to 2-4 on the season, while Bucknell falls to 1-3.

"Our two senior hitters Hannah and Sabrina have really stepped it up," Lehigh head coach Alexa Keckler said. "They've stepped it up at practice and performed on the court in this weekend's matches. Both of them hit over .400, which is very impressive. They've gotten back into their groove and are stepping up.

"As a team, defensively we're touching more and making bigger moves, so between that and their attacks, it has made a big difference on the court."

Lehigh broke an 8-8 tie in the first set by scoring four of the next five points to grab a 12-9 lead. Three straight kills, two by Wright and one by Lancaster, put the Mountain Hawks up 17-12. Bucknell never came back within three points. A Washington kill eventually finished off a 25-17 set win.

The Mountain Hawks started fast in set two, winning 10 of the first 13 points. The lead grew as large as 15-6. The Bison came within 19-17 but a 3-0 Lehigh run capped by an Alina Lam service ace re-established a five point cushion. A Washington Kill cemented a 25-19 victory and a 2-0 Lehigh lead.

The third set saw Lehigh run out 5-0 including three more Lam aces. Bucknell never came closer than four points the rest of the way. Back-to-back kills by Wright and Washington put the finishing touches on a 25-14 set victory that gave the Mountain Hawks their second win of the weekend.

"She has been super-exciting," Keckler said of Washington. "I'm really excited to see how she develops. She doesn't back down. She's very calm and cool to play six rotations as a freshman. She has done a great job of learning and applying from match to match. That freshman group is really a coachable group. They take feedback and apply it really quickly which is a big difference."

Washington had eight digs and five block assists to go with her 16 kills. Lancaster finished with 12 kills and a .500 hitting percentage, while Wright recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs.

Lam had four aces and a team-high 19 assists, while freshman Sarah Burau added 17 assists. Freshman Ally Thaw led the Mountain Hawks with 11 digs.

"The energy and excitement on the court and on the sidelines has been a huge difference maker," Keckler said. "I'm appreciative to the captains and the energy down to the freshmen has been really good to see."

Bucknell was led by Lisa Zoch's nine kills. The Bison hit just .174 for the match.

The Mountain Hawks and Bison are currently slated to meet again next weekend with Lehigh hosting Bucknell Friday at 7 p.m. and then traveling to Lewisburg Sunday at 4 p.m. Friday's home match will be streamed on ESPN+.

Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.