Lightning Fans Watch Men's Volleyball Drop Pair of Matches in Home Opener

Jan. 28, 2012

Box Score Gm. 1
Box Score Gm. 2

BRONX, N.Y. - Coming off a win in its season opener, the Lehman men's volleyball team could not carry that success over to the doubleheader played on Saturday afternoon against visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology and Stevenson University, as the team dropped both matches by a 3-1 score.

Both matches were hotly contested, especially the second match of the day between the Lightning and Mustangs with just two points separating the teams in three of the four sets. Lehman captured the first set 25-23, then lost a chance to take control of the match when Stevenson pulled out a 27-25 win in the second set. The Mustangs continued their strong play to take the third 25-19 before closing out the Lightning with another down-to-the-wire 26-24 set win.

Manuel Bonilla was the hitting star of the match for Lehman, registering 15 kills to go along with 11 digs. Teammate Miguel Gallardo displayed fine passing touch, handing out 39 assists to complement his 17 digs. Brian Francisco also slammed 10 kills for the Lightning.

The Saints were led by the dynamic duo of Austin Jacoby (24 kills) and Kyle Diller (44 assists).

In the first match of the day, the Wentworth Leopards, fresh off a win earlier in the morning over City College of New York, hit the ground running upon reaching the APEX, taking the first set 25-8 before the Lightning could figure out what hit them. Wentworth rolled right through the second set as well, 25-14. Lehman came to life in the third, earning a hard fought 25-22 win, but it was too little, too late as the Leopards earned their second victory of the day by taking the fourth set 25-18.

Both Franciso and Luis Colon registered seven kills each for Lehman. In a tune-up for his performance to come against Stevenson, Gallardo handed out 26 assists.

Lehman will stay in the Bronx for its next match, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1 against Polytechnic Institute of New York University.

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