Sept. 13, 2011

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - After two sets and 48 points on Tuesday night at the APEX in the Bronx, the Hunter Hawks and Lehman Lightning were deadlocked at 24 all, the Lightning having battled back from a 22-15 deficit to tie the score.

Encouragement from the home crowd filled the APEX gym as it could feel the possibility of the Lightning about to turn the tables on a team that had been historically dominant against it over the last several years.

However, the Hawks didn't win the 2010 CUNYAC championship without knowing how to dig down deep when it mattered most, which is exactly what they did to grab the final two points and take the crucial third set 26-24.

Having seemingly exhausted all its energy in its third set comeback, the Lightning could not stave off defeat much longer as the Hawks took the fourth rather handily, 25-17, after building a 23-9 lead at one juncture.

At the outset of the match it seemed like the Hawks would be back at their midtown campus in no time as they jumped out to a quick 11-2 lead behind shaky play by the Lightning to start.

“They respected the name on the front of the jersey too much at the beginning of the match,” said Lehman head coach Wolfgang Lucena of his team's early play against the defending CUNYAC champs.

The Lightning did regroup before dropping the first set 25-17.

“After we settled down, we were fine, which you saw in the second set.”

That second set was a different story as the Lightning turned the tables on Hunter, taking a 10-4 lead with junior Racine Brown at the service line. Lehman continued to maintain its lead throughout as seniors Gerri-Ann Martin (3 kills, 2 service aces) and Jennifer Winkler stepped up their play over the remainder of the set (3 kills).

The third set turned into an epic battle of perseverance and determination as both teams had players sacrificing their bodies to keep plays alive. During one rally, Winkler went crashing into the net stanchion at full speed, only to shake herself out and get ready for the next play.

“Jennifer just doesn't care about her body on the court,” said Lucena. “She will sacrifice herself for any point. If everyone plays with her energy we'll be fine going forward.”

Winkler's energy appeared to be infectious as the team climbed back behind exceptional setting from Jasmine Bermudez and the duo of Winkler and Martin. In fact with Lehman facing set point at 24-21, it was Winkler who slammed home two kills over the next three points to temporarily keep the set alive.

Hunter's CUNYAC All-Star, senior Mallory Grubler, eventually squashed Lehman's comeback attempt with her kill to close out the set at 26-24.

In the loss, Martin posted a huge all-around game with 18 kills, 20 digs and four service aces while Winkler chipped in eight kills and 14 digs. Bermudez frequently found her teammates in the right positions on the court, notching 30 assists to go along with 11 digs.

The Hawks were led by Katina Boutis' 30 assists, Karolina Krauze's 10 kills and Kimberly Herten's 16 digs.

Lehman returns to the court tomorrow night when it travels to SUNY Purchase for a non-conference match.