Final Stats

EASTON, Pa. - For the first time this season, the Lafayette volleyball team played to five sets and despite a strong showing late, the Leopards were defeated 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 6-15) by Lehigh in a Patriot League match on Tuesday night at Kirby Sports Center.

The Leopards (3-16, 1-8 PL) turned in one of their best offensive performances all year and against the Mountain Hawks (11-12, 6-3 PL), Elizabeth Walsh and Katherine Stevens each tied their career highs in kills. Walsh tallied 17 kills with a .343 attack percentage, while Stevens recorded 15 kills. Kelly Flynn also posted an efficient night, connecting on eight of her 20 attacks for a .400 attack percentage.

Setter Maria Balus commanded the primary setting duties and concluded the night with 45 assists and 16 digs for a double-double. Sonia Musso and Katrina Ruggiero each posted double-digit digs as well.

The night began with a tightly-contested opening set and the Leopards took an 18-17 lead after a kill by Stevens. However, Lehigh caught fire late and closed out the set on an 8-2 run.

The Mountain Hawks continued to stay in rhythm and kicked off the second set with four consecutive points. The Leopards easily overcame the narrow deficit and went on an 11-3 run that was capped off by a service ace from Jet Manzi.

The set remained close for a while and the Leopards were holding onto a slim two-point lead. With the 18-16 advantage, the Leopards looked to Stevens and she delivered with a pair of kills and teamed up with Flynn for a timely block late in the set to keep Lafayette on top.

The Leopards were able to eventually take the second set 25-18 after back-to-back errors by the Mountain Hawks.

In the third set, the Leopards had all the momentum on their side and with Manzi serving, the Maroon and White tallied four points in the middle of a 12-5 run. However, despite trailing, the momentum began to slowly shift in favor of the Mountain Hawks and Lehigh countered with 13 unanswered points.

The Mountain Hawks expanded their lead and went to take the set 25-17.

In a potential game-winning set for the Mountain Hawks, the two teams were neck-and-neck until a 5-0 run put Lehigh on top 20-17. The Leopards went to Kelly Flynn on back-to-back volleys and she delivered a pair of kills. Following a Lehigh attack error, the game was knotted up at 20-20.

It was 22-22 when Walsh buried an attack and then the Mountain Hawks committed two straight costly errors to give Lafayette the set, 25-23.

In the Leopards first fifth set of the 2016 season, the Maroon and White fell behind 9-1. Lehigh continued to capitalize on their scoring chances and grabbed the set and match win.

The Leopards will be back in action on Friday as they host American in a Patriot League contest slated for 7 p.m. at Kirby Sports Center.