Lehigh University Athletics
The Mountain Hawks Top the Mountaineers in Five Sets as Lehigh Completes Non-League Schedule at 7-1
9/11/2026 2:28:00 PM | Volleyball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Lehigh defeated West Virginia in five sets Friday morning, 23-25, 25-14, 16-25, 25-23 and 15-12, in its second and final match of the West Virginia Invitational. The Mountain Hawks, who entered the match with a 6-1 record, recorded 58 kills, four service aces and 27 total blocks while hitting .253 as a team. With the win, Lehigh improved to 7-1 on the season and concluded its non-league schedule with a 7-1 record. The victory also marked Lehigh's first win over a Power Five opponent since defeating Rutgers in five sets in 2018.Â
Alysia Fingall led the Mountain Hawks with a career-high 17 kills while hitting .256, adding 14 digs on the defensive end. Natalie Luscomb followed with 14 kills while hitting a season-high .448, adding a season-high four block assists. Ufuoma Omene recorded 11 kills and five digs, while Olivia Lasee added eight kills, 10 block assists and two digs. Lasee continues to lead the Patriot League with 1.37 blocks per set.Â
Grace Slovensky paced Lehigh's offense with a career-high 28 assists, while Abby Felkai added 22 assists, two service aces and eight digs. Sophia Bond contributed 15 digs and one service ace, while Mary Massias added a career-high 15 digs and seven kills.Â
Head coach Shawn McLaughlin was proud of the team's effort in the five-set battle, saying, "What a match! So much fun to coach this group! We fought very hard and put on a defensive battle!"Â
Set 1 West Virginia (25-23)
West Virginia took the opening set 25-23 after making a late run to pull ahead. Lehigh recorded 11 kills and hit .167, with Luscomb and Fingall each tallying three kills. The Mountain Hawks stayed within striking distance throughout the set before the Mountaineers closed out the opener with a late push.Â
Set 2 Lehigh (25-14)
The Mountain Hawks responded with a dominant second set, taking it 25-14. Lehigh recorded 14 kills while hitting .400, with Fingall and Omene each adding four kills. The Mountain Hawks' defense limited West Virginia to 10 kills and a .000 hitting percentage to even the match at one set apiece.Â
Set 3 West Virginia (25-16)
West Virginia regained the lead by taking the third set 25-16. Lehigh recorded eight kills and, with Fingall leading the Mountain Hawks with four kills. The Mountaineers recorded 16 kills in the set while hitting .243.Â
Set 4 Lehigh (25-23)
Lehigh battled back to force a decisive fifth set with a 25-23 fourth-set victory. The Mountain Hawks recorded 15 kills while hitting .324, with Fingall leading the way with five kills. Luscomb added four kills as Lehigh held off the Mountaineers to even the match at two sets apiece.Â
Set 5 Lehigh (15-12)
The Mountain Hawks closed out the five-set thriller with a 15-12 victory in the deciding set, earning their first five-set victory of the season. Lehigh recorded 10 kills and hit .259, with Alysia Fingall and Natalie Luscomb each contributing three kills.Â
Up Next
Next weekend, the Mountain Hawks will begin Patriot League play and return to Grace Hall to welcome Bucknell and Lafayette. Lehigh will take on Bucknell Saturday at 4 p.m. before facing Lafayette Sunday at 12 p.m.Â
Alysia Fingall led the Mountain Hawks with a career-high 17 kills while hitting .256, adding 14 digs on the defensive end. Natalie Luscomb followed with 14 kills while hitting a season-high .448, adding a season-high four block assists. Ufuoma Omene recorded 11 kills and five digs, while Olivia Lasee added eight kills, 10 block assists and two digs. Lasee continues to lead the Patriot League with 1.37 blocks per set.Â
Grace Slovensky paced Lehigh's offense with a career-high 28 assists, while Abby Felkai added 22 assists, two service aces and eight digs. Sophia Bond contributed 15 digs and one service ace, while Mary Massias added a career-high 15 digs and seven kills.Â
Head coach Shawn McLaughlin was proud of the team's effort in the five-set battle, saying, "What a match! So much fun to coach this group! We fought very hard and put on a defensive battle!"Â
Set 1 West Virginia (25-23)
West Virginia took the opening set 25-23 after making a late run to pull ahead. Lehigh recorded 11 kills and hit .167, with Luscomb and Fingall each tallying three kills. The Mountain Hawks stayed within striking distance throughout the set before the Mountaineers closed out the opener with a late push.Â
Set 2 Lehigh (25-14)
The Mountain Hawks responded with a dominant second set, taking it 25-14. Lehigh recorded 14 kills while hitting .400, with Fingall and Omene each adding four kills. The Mountain Hawks' defense limited West Virginia to 10 kills and a .000 hitting percentage to even the match at one set apiece.Â
Set 3 West Virginia (25-16)
West Virginia regained the lead by taking the third set 25-16. Lehigh recorded eight kills and, with Fingall leading the Mountain Hawks with four kills. The Mountaineers recorded 16 kills in the set while hitting .243.Â
Set 4 Lehigh (25-23)
Lehigh battled back to force a decisive fifth set with a 25-23 fourth-set victory. The Mountain Hawks recorded 15 kills while hitting .324, with Fingall leading the way with five kills. Luscomb added four kills as Lehigh held off the Mountaineers to even the match at two sets apiece.Â
Set 5 Lehigh (15-12)
The Mountain Hawks closed out the five-set thriller with a 15-12 victory in the deciding set, earning their first five-set victory of the season. Lehigh recorded 10 kills and hit .259, with Alysia Fingall and Natalie Luscomb each contributing three kills.Â
Up Next
Next weekend, the Mountain Hawks will begin Patriot League play and return to Grace Hall to welcome Bucknell and Lafayette. Lehigh will take on Bucknell Saturday at 4 p.m. before facing Lafayette Sunday at 12 p.m.Â
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
RS
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
RS
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballSaturday, November 08
Friday, October 10
Saturday, October 04
Friday, September 26
