Saturday, September 16
Bethlehem, Pa.
4:00 PM
Lehigh University
9-3,1-0Patriot
3
vs
0
Holy Cross
3-8,0-2Patriot
1
2
3
F
Holy Cross
17
16
25
0
Lehigh
25
25
27
3
Photo by: Paige Moen
Lehigh Defeats Holy Cross 3-0 In Patriot League Opener
9/16/2023 7:45:00 PM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League regular season began on Saturday afternoon for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks as the team welcomed the Holy Cross Crusaders to Grace Hall. Lehigh took care of business, defeating the Crusaders in straight sets to claim their first in-league win of the season.
"It was a great day for us to get that first PL win under our belt," said head coach Alexa Keckler. "Good confidence and flow heading into tomorrow's match."
Lehigh (9-3, 1-0) got off to a hot start to begin the match, winning the first two sets convincingly by scores of 25-17 and 25-16. The first set began closely-contested, but a 5-0 run from the Mountain Hawks set the score at 20-13, a lead that was too much for Holy Cross (3-8, 0-2) to overcome. The second set provided much of the same, as Lehigh maintained a slight lead over the Crusaders for most of the frame. The Mountain Hawks closed out the set on a 5-1 run, with Madison McCartney's kill acting as the exclamation point on the set victory.
The Crusaders wouldn't go out without a fight in third despite facing a 2-0 set deficit. Both teams remained within two to three points of one another up until the ninth point when Holy Cross conducted a 4-0 run to lead 13-9.
After a Lehigh timeout, the Mountain Hawks responded in kind, eventually closing the gap to two points at 17-15. From this point, Lehigh pulled off another run to lead by three, but were soon matched by the Crusaders to tie the set at 20 apiece. On the brink of losing the set with the score at 25-24 in favor of Holy Cross, a kill from Megan Schulte, service ace from Molly Thompson, and solo block by McCartney put the cap on Lehigh's 3-0 match win.
Megan Schulte's 14 kills led the way for the Mountain Hawks and puts her currently first overall in the Patriot League with 168 total kills. First-year Abby Felkai carried the bulk of Lehigh's assists with 20 while Kyleigh Brown once again led the way with eight digs. Lehigh's .323 hitting percentage was the second highest mark that the team has recorded all season (.403 vs. Merrimack, 9/1).
"I think through the course of preseason tournaments we've been tested and challenged and there isn't a person on the court that we don't have confidence in to get the job done when it has to be done," said Keckler. "They are learning and growing with confidence daily."
The Mountain Hawks will be back in action on Sunday to take on reigning Patriot League champion Colgate. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Grace Hall.
"Tomorrow is another match. It doesn't matter who it is, we need to prepare the same," said Keckler. "Get some good fuel for our bodies, a good night's sleep and know the game plan. Then it's time to step on the court and execute that plan."
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
"It was a great day for us to get that first PL win under our belt," said head coach Alexa Keckler. "Good confidence and flow heading into tomorrow's match."
Lehigh (9-3, 1-0) got off to a hot start to begin the match, winning the first two sets convincingly by scores of 25-17 and 25-16. The first set began closely-contested, but a 5-0 run from the Mountain Hawks set the score at 20-13, a lead that was too much for Holy Cross (3-8, 0-2) to overcome. The second set provided much of the same, as Lehigh maintained a slight lead over the Crusaders for most of the frame. The Mountain Hawks closed out the set on a 5-1 run, with Madison McCartney's kill acting as the exclamation point on the set victory.
The Crusaders wouldn't go out without a fight in third despite facing a 2-0 set deficit. Both teams remained within two to three points of one another up until the ninth point when Holy Cross conducted a 4-0 run to lead 13-9.
After a Lehigh timeout, the Mountain Hawks responded in kind, eventually closing the gap to two points at 17-15. From this point, Lehigh pulled off another run to lead by three, but were soon matched by the Crusaders to tie the set at 20 apiece. On the brink of losing the set with the score at 25-24 in favor of Holy Cross, a kill from Megan Schulte, service ace from Molly Thompson, and solo block by McCartney put the cap on Lehigh's 3-0 match win.
Megan Schulte's 14 kills led the way for the Mountain Hawks and puts her currently first overall in the Patriot League with 168 total kills. First-year Abby Felkai carried the bulk of Lehigh's assists with 20 while Kyleigh Brown once again led the way with eight digs. Lehigh's .323 hitting percentage was the second highest mark that the team has recorded all season (.403 vs. Merrimack, 9/1).
"I think through the course of preseason tournaments we've been tested and challenged and there isn't a person on the court that we don't have confidence in to get the job done when it has to be done," said Keckler. "They are learning and growing with confidence daily."
The Mountain Hawks will be back in action on Sunday to take on reigning Patriot League champion Colgate. First serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Grace Hall.
"Tomorrow is another match. It doesn't matter who it is, we need to prepare the same," said Keckler. "Get some good fuel for our bodies, a good night's sleep and know the game plan. Then it's time to step on the court and execute that plan."
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Team Stats
HolyCr
Lehigh
Kills
32
45
Errors
17
13
Attempts
90
99
Hitting %
.167
.323
Points
43.0
58.0
Assists
32
38
Aces
7
7
Blocks
4
6
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ Volleyball2025 Lehigh Volleyball Season Preview
Friday, August 29
Lehigh Sports Central: Volleyball
Wednesday, September 25
Season Preview: Volleyball
Wednesday, August 28
Volleyball's Natalie Luscomb and Makena Smith represent USA in 18th Annual Global Challenge
Tuesday, October 31
