Lehman Collars Bulldogs To Move Into Semis

If one didn't think games during the playoffs meant a little something extra, the large wrap around Lehman captain Jennifer Winkler's hand said it all on Tuesday night.

Having sustained a broken finger recently that kept her out of action this past weekend versus NYU Polytechnic and SUNYIT, Winkler would not be denied the chance to compete with her team to make a run for a championship according to Coach Wolfgang Lucena.

“She basically told me that she didn't care if she lost the finger, that she was going to play,” said Lucena.

Happily for Winkler, her determination wasn't in vain as Lehman toppled Brooklyn College in four games to take its CUNYAC/EmblemHealth Championship Quarterfinal match.

The night started out overwhelmingly positive for the Lightning as it cruised to back-to-back 25-14 wins in the first and second sets behind strong play from Gerri-Ann Martin and Vanessa Brown. In the first set alone Martin and Brown combined for 13 kills.

Not wanting to have come all the way to the Bronx to go home in straight sets, Brooklyn mustered some resolve, and combined with a number of Lightning errors, was able to pull out a tightly contested third set 25-19.

And the Bulldogs would battle tooth and nail in the fourth set as well, holding a one point lead at 13-12, before Lehman rolled off seven straight points behind the serving of Vanessa Brown and frontcourt play of Besa Zabelaj to take control at 19-13.

Martin and Vanessa Brown each added one final kill for good measure over the remaining five points as Lehman closed out the match 25-20. Martin would finish with a stellar 17 kills while Brown posted 14 kills of her own. Their efforts couldn't have been any more impressive for Coach Lucena.

“There's not much left to say about both of them except that they're beasts,” gushed Lucena of his hitting stars.

Winkler, broken finger and all, was outstanding in the back line with 14 digs, which tied Zabelaj for the team lead, while Lisa Jagdeo set up her teammates to the tune of 33 assists.

“This was a total team effort,” said Lucena. “Everyone contributed to the win.”

Lehman now moves on to Friday's semifinal slate where it will face off with No. 1 seed Hunter College at 6 p.m. Not willing to give an inch to the top seed, however, Coach Lucena knows this is the matchup his girls wanted.

“The ladies have been working hard since the beginning of the season to play against Hunter and Baruch.”

That time has now come. No one has to ask if Jennifer Winkler will be ready.

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