Mar. 15, 2011

Box Score

Tuesday night at the APEX was a memorable one.

Not only did the Lightning close out the regular season with a win over City College of New York that ran its win streak to five games, but a quartet of departing players was showered with some much deserved appreciation from teammates, family and friends as part of Senior Night.

Prior to the evening's action, Nate Martin, R.J. LeBlanc, Michael Arzola and Valon Lajci were honored for their contributions to the volleyball program.

For Martin, LeBlanc and Arzola the ceremony was the culmination of four years of hard work and sacrifice, a bit shorter for Lajci who joined the team with two years of eligibility remaining, during which time the three adapted to a change in head coaches but still managed to help lead the Lightning to the program's first ever appearance in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships in 2010. Despite it not being their final day with the Lightning thanks to Lehman's projected No. 3 seed in the upcoming City University of New York Athletic Conference Championships, the impact of their pending absence did not escape head coach Wolfgang Lucena.

“I'm really proud of this entire team, especially these four, who I'll remember forever,” said Lucena. “And I don't know where Lehman College will be next year without Nate and R.J. It will take at least six players for me to try to replace those two next year.”

Following a gorgeous rendition of the national anthem by Lehman swimmer Tanaka Nyemba, the Lightning and Beavers finally got down to business on the court and it was CCNY that took it to the Lightning. The Beavers, 7-6 in the CUNYAC prior to the night's match, took advantage of a Lightning lineup unfamiliar with each other to start and built a six point lead that they held throughout much of the set in taking the opener 25-18.

Its focus narrowed thanks to the Beavers opening set win, Lehman turned its game up a notch in the second. Using a 10-1 run that turned a 12-8 game into a commanding 22-9 lead, the Lightning pulled even in the match when Martin's kill closed out the second set 25-15.

The intensity continued to rise in the third set as both teams waged a back and forth affair. Tied at 14, four straight points by the Lightning opened some breathing room. Lehman maintained that distance, ending the set, 25-18, on LeBlanc's kill.

Sensing victory, Lehman jumped out to a 6-1 lead amidst some emotional play from both sides, eventually building a 23-16 lead after a stretch that included three kills and a block by Victor Garcia, as well as a kill from Arzola. Fittingly, LeBlanc's putaway ended the set 25-18, as well as the match, in Lehman's favor.

Coach Lucena's “super hero duo” of LeBlanc and Martin led the Lightning with 21 and 10 kills respectively. Freshman Miguel Gallardo chipped in 38 assists.

The Lightning now has a week to rest and recover before opening the CUNY Championships on Tuesday, March 22 for what it hopes is the beginning of a deep postseason run.