Friday, September 20
Bethlehem, Pa.
7:00 PM
Lehigh University
7-3,1-0Patriot
3
vs
2
Army
4-6,0-1Patriot
1
2
3
4
5
F
Army West Point
25
25
20
18
11
2
Lehigh
21
18
25
25
15
3
Photo by: Tommy Biltcliff
Lehigh Stuns Army West Point In Comeback Thriller
9/20/2024 11:06:00 PM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Patriot League play kicked off for both Lehigh and Army West Point on Friday evening from Grace Hall, marking the first of a 16-game league schedule throughout the fall. The Mountain Hawks got their league season started in style, completing a 2-0 comeback over the Black Knights to win in five sets.
The Mountain Hawks' victory was their first league win of the 2024 season and second-consecutive victory over the Black Knights. Lehigh successfully completed a reverse sweep of Army West Point last November at Grace Hall.
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Army West Point (4-6, 0-1 PL), who finished second in the Patriot League a season ago, looked to be returning to form to begin the match. Lehigh (7-3, 1-0 PL) and Army West Point played a fairly even set in the first until a 4-0 run allowed the Black Knights to take a 22-17 lead, which culminated in a 25-21 victory. Army West Point controlled the second set from the jump, leading by as many as seven on route to a 25-18 second set win.
With their backs against the wall, Lehigh needed a spark to thrust themselves back into the match. Down 19-17 late in the frame, the Mountain Hawks uncorked a 7-0 run, highlighted by multiple kills from Alysia Fingall and two service aces from Sophia Bond. An ensuing Natalie Luscomb kill catapulted Lehigh to a third set victory.
Now having found their stride, Lehigh continued to fight into the fourth set. Despite trailing early, Lehigh closed out the set with an 11-5 run, with massive contributions coming from first-year setter Kamryn Utley and sophomore Ufuoma Omene. The Mountain Hawks now found themselves 15 points away from doing the unimaginable.
In set five, Army West Point began on a strong note, taking an early three-point lead. Lehigh responded with a run of their own, and the two teams continued to trade blows until the score was 10-9 in favor of the Mountain Hawks. The Mountain Hawks scored four unanswered to give themselves match point, and despite two more points from the Black Knights, an Omene kill put the icing on the cake for Lehigh's improbable comeback.
Fingall shined in the victory, recording a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs to go along with a solid .324 hitting percentage. Luscomb added 11 kills while Omene tallied eight of her own. Sophomore Abby Felkai led Lehigh with 19 assists while Utley added a career-high 15. Senior libero Kyleigh Brown led the way for the Mountain Hawks with 27 digs defensively.
The Mountain Hawks return to Grace Hall on Saturday, September 21 to take on defending league champion Colgate. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena.
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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The Mountain Hawks' victory was their first league win of the 2024 season and second-consecutive victory over the Black Knights. Lehigh successfully completed a reverse sweep of Army West Point last November at Grace Hall.
Â
🔊 Head coach Alexa Keckler following tonight's massive comeback against Army West Point!#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/JEFCp2NJhc
— Lehigh Volleyball (@LehighVBall) September 21, 2024
Army West Point (4-6, 0-1 PL), who finished second in the Patriot League a season ago, looked to be returning to form to begin the match. Lehigh (7-3, 1-0 PL) and Army West Point played a fairly even set in the first until a 4-0 run allowed the Black Knights to take a 22-17 lead, which culminated in a 25-21 victory. Army West Point controlled the second set from the jump, leading by as many as seven on route to a 25-18 second set win.
With their backs against the wall, Lehigh needed a spark to thrust themselves back into the match. Down 19-17 late in the frame, the Mountain Hawks uncorked a 7-0 run, highlighted by multiple kills from Alysia Fingall and two service aces from Sophia Bond. An ensuing Natalie Luscomb kill catapulted Lehigh to a third set victory.
Now having found their stride, Lehigh continued to fight into the fourth set. Despite trailing early, Lehigh closed out the set with an 11-5 run, with massive contributions coming from first-year setter Kamryn Utley and sophomore Ufuoma Omene. The Mountain Hawks now found themselves 15 points away from doing the unimaginable.
In set five, Army West Point began on a strong note, taking an early three-point lead. Lehigh responded with a run of their own, and the two teams continued to trade blows until the score was 10-9 in favor of the Mountain Hawks. The Mountain Hawks scored four unanswered to give themselves match point, and despite two more points from the Black Knights, an Omene kill put the icing on the cake for Lehigh's improbable comeback.
Fingall shined in the victory, recording a double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs to go along with a solid .324 hitting percentage. Luscomb added 11 kills while Omene tallied eight of her own. Sophomore Abby Felkai led Lehigh with 19 assists while Utley added a career-high 15. Senior libero Kyleigh Brown led the way for the Mountain Hawks with 27 digs defensively.
The Mountain Hawks return to Grace Hall on Saturday, September 21 to take on defending league champion Colgate. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena.
Like Lehigh Volleyball on Facebook, follow on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Team Stats
ARM
Lehigh
Kills
61
54
Errors
34
23
Attempts
178
160
Hitting %
.152
.194
Points
75.0
75.0
Assists
56
50
Aces
4
4
Blocks
10
17
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
11
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballRS
/ VolleyballRS
/ Volleyball
S
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