Lightning Use Spirited Effort To Outlast Bloodhounds

New York, NY – The Lehman College women’s volleyball team (3-7 Overall, 3-2 CUNYAC) walked into a hostile environment for a key conference contest and came away with a huge victory, defeating the John Jay College Bloodhounds (6-11 Overall, 2-3 CUNYAC) by scores of 26-30, 30-27, 25-30, 30-22, 15-13 Tuesday evening at the Doghouse in New York, NY.

The Bloodhounds were clicking on all cylinders in the early stages of the critical conference battle. John Jay used the energy of the crowd to build an early 10-0 advantage in the first set. Lehman would bounce back to score eight consecutive points to get back into the contest. From there, John Jay would score 12 of the match’s next 20 points, staking claim to a 22-16 edge.

Lehman would then rally for nine consecutive points to take a 25-22 lead. John Jay would answer by finishing the first set strongly, outscoring Lehman 8-1 to take the set by a count of 30-25.

The second set saw the Bloodhounds grab the early advantage as they led through the first nine points. Lehman, down 9-8, would tally six of the next seven points to grab a 14-10 lead. John Jay would then respond with a 6-0 run to take a 16-14 lead due mostly in part to the play of Jennifer Gonzalez, who finished the evening with an impressive 14 kills and 12 digs.

The Lightning, trailing 17-16, scored six of the set’s next seven points to take a 22-18 lead. John Jay would then go back ahead by outscoring Lehman 8-3 through the set’s next 11 points. The Lightning, who played with heart and determination throughout the night, finished off the 2nd set, outscoring John Jay 5-1 to take a 30-27 victory and even the match at a game apiece.

The third set saw Lehman take an early 5-4 advantage, but that was the last lead the Lightning would hold as John Jay maintained control of the set from there and gritted their way to a victory.

Despite trialing 2-1 in the match, the Lightning persevered, using a gritty performance to even the match at two games apiece. John Jay held a seemingly insurmountable 12-4 lead early in the contest, but the Lightning would go on a sensational run, outscoring the Bloodhounds 9-1 to tie the set at 13. From there, Lehman would score 17 of the match’s next 26 points, downing John Jay 30-22 to force a fifth and decisive set.

In the fifth set the Lightning led by as many as six before rallying off four straight points to narrow the deficit to 7-5. From there, Lehman would take a 14-10 lead, and, after the Bloodhounds rallied off three straight points, Petralia recorded the final kill of the contest to give Lehman the thrilling victory.

For the Lightning, senior Yohanna Sufran led the way with a 15 kills and a game high 27 digs.

The Lightning will return to action Thursday evening as they travel to SUNY Maritime to battle the Privateers, with match time scheduled for 7:00pm.