Sept. 24, 2004
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - The Lafayette volleyball team improved its record to 8-4 with a three game win against Lehigh in the Patriot League opener for both teams in front of a raucous and partisan crowd on Friday night at the Kirby Sports Center.
Sophomore Veronica Canto-Ponce led Lafayette with 12 kills, including seven in the first game as the Leopards rebounded from a slow start to win 30-26.
Lafayette earned its first eight-win month since October 1988, and has beaten Lehigh (1-10, 0-1 PL) in consecutive years for the first time since 1991 and 1992.
After the close first game, the Leopards pulled away early each of the last two games and maintained their intensity to claim the match, 30-21 and 30-16.
Canto-Ponce and Shannon Fisher each put down four kills in the final game, as Lafayette posted 15 kills and only three errors.
The Leopards defense harassed Lehigh into two more errors than kills for a negative attack percentage for the match.
Senior Heidi Olichwier posted 22 assists and three service aces as Lafayette continued its strong serving with 12 aces. Fisher had a team-high with four, and freshman Karla Barbiche put in all three of her aces in the first game.
Canto-Ponce paced Lafayette with four blocks and eight digs, while junior Catherine Herchenroder also had a strong outing, with six kills and eight digs.
Shaina Jordan led Lehigh with eight kills and four blocks. Libero Nikky Barnes had 10 digs for the Mountain Hawks.
Lafayette will host Bucknell on Friday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., and concludes its homestand with a 5 p.m. match vs. Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 2.
