Oct. 14, 2005
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Despite Lafayette taking a commanding 2-0 lead, Lehigh came back to force a a game five Friday night at Leeman-Turner Arena in Patriot League volleyball action. The Leopards rebounded and decisively won the deciding game, 15-9, to take the match 3-2 (30-28, 30-24, 26-30, 24-30, 15-9).
In the opening game, Lafayette bounced back from an early 6-1 hole to tie the game at 16 all midway through. From there, the Leopards reeled off three straight points to go ahead 19-16, taking a lead that the team would not relinquish en route to the 30-28 win.
Lafayette carried that momentum into game two, building an early lead and keeping Lehigh comfortable at bay for most of the match. Lafayette played an inspired game two, as Lehigh never got over the hump to gain a lead and the Leopards went up 2-0 with the 30-24 victory.
In game three, Lehigh began to find its rhythm offensively as the Mountain Hawks hit .203 and held Lafayette to .131 hitting. The Leopards established a 1-0 lead to open play, but would never climb within less than a four-point deficit throughout, including a 30-26 final score.
Game four opened both teams fighting point-for-point before a 5-5 tie in the early going. Lehigh then mounted a 9-0 run to take a 14-5 lead that Lafayette would never recover from. The Leopards did pull within two, 20-18, but Lehigh scored 10 of the final 16 points to force game five with a 30-24 victory.
Whatever momentum Lehigh was able to muster, Lafayette topped in the deciding game, as the Leopards came out swinging en route to the match-clinching win. The Mountain Hawks made seven costly attack errors early, as Lafayette built a six-point lead and would hold on for the 15-9 win. Junior Veronica Canto-Ponce appropriately capped the night with one of her match-high 22 kills for game point.
Statistically, the teams mirrored each other, although Lafayette held a slim advantage hitting .152 to Lehigh's .147. Five Leopards hit above .200, led by senior Catherine Herchenroder with seven kills and a .227 outing.
The tandem of Canto-Ponce and sophomore Michaela Donohue led the way for Lafayette on sides, as they tallied a team-high 19 defensive digs apiece. Donohue followed Canto-Ponce's 22 kills with 17 of her own. Junior Shannon Fisher chipped in with 11 kills, while sophomore Maura Kelly added four of Lafayette's 12 block assists. Freshman setter Megan Carter put up a match-high 54 assists.
The win moved Lafayette to 11-9 overall and 2-5 in Patriot League play, while Lehigh fell to 4-15 overall and remained winless at 0-7 in the league.
The Leopards continue action tomorrow as the team hosts Providence for a non-league contest at 7:00 p.m. in Easton.
