BROOKLYN, N.Y. – It took nearly two hours of back-and-forth action, but the Lehman College women's volleyball fought off a tough St. Joseph's College team, winning 3-2. Lehman won the first set 25-21 before dropping the second, 15-25. The Lightning (10-12, 4-2 CUNYAC) rebounded to win the third rather handily, 25-14, before SJC claimed the fourth, 20-25. In the final set, Lehman overcame match point by taking six of the final eight points to rally for the victory, 16-14.

In all, the score was tied 20 times during the match, with eight lead changes.

In the deciding fifth set, SJC held a tenuous 13-7 lead before the Lightning scored five straight points to cut the lead to 13-12. In that stretch, sophomore Jo-Marie Aquino (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) had three big kills. But SJC was able to score on a kill to take a 14-12 lead, creating a match-point situation.

SJC served, and Lehman responded. Aquino fed freshman Imani Dubois (Bronx, N.Y./JP Taravella), who kept Lehman alive with a kill. Aquino then served an ace, her only one of the match, to knot the score at 14.  Junior Besa Zabelaj (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) then recorded a kill, and suddenly the Lightning were serving for the match.

The Bears (11-4)  then called a timeout to regroup, and were able to score back-to-back points, creating their second match-point opportunity. But a service error for SJC tied the score again, and Zabelaj was up next to serve. She responded with back-to-back service aces, her sixth and seventh on the day, and the Lightning claimed the hard fought victory.

In total, sophomore Cari English (Yonkers, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) led the attack with a match-high 19 kills, four digs, and three solo blocks. Aquino finished with ten kills and 16 digs, while senior Vanessa Brown (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman HS) had five kills and 16 digs. Zabelaj added 11 kills to her seven service aces, while Dubois contributed 13 digs and 35 assists.

Lehman will return home for a two-date homestand, hosting CUNYAC-rival Staten Island on Tuesday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m., then New Rochelle and Mt. St. Vincent on Thursday, beginning at 6:00 p.m.