WAYNE, N.J. – The Lehman College women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought, 3-2, decision at the hands of host William Paterson University on Thursday night. Set scores were 25-13, 11-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-5. Lehman is now 2-1 on the year, while WPU is 1-0.

The two teams split the first two sets, then played a hotly contested third set.

In the third, the teams traded points, and WPU led 6-4. But the Lightning then went on an incredible 6-0 run, highlighted by two points from senior Besa Zabelaj (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains). Back and forth action continued, with WPU ultimately taking the crucial set, 25-23.

Undeterred, Lehman roared back in the fourth. With the host Pioneers ahead 12-6, Lehman went on an 8-3 run, bringing the score to 15-14. Junior Jo-Marie Aquino (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) had three big kills during that stretch. Eventually, the score was tied again, this time at 24 apiece, on a kill by junior Cari English (Yonkers, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman). Sophomore Imani Dubois (West Palm Beach, Fla./J.P. Tarravella) knocked down another kill, setting up set point. An attack error by WPU gave the set to Lehman, setting up the fifth and final set.

In the fifth, WPU jumped out to a 9-1 lead, and fought off a valiant effort by the Lightning, sealing the victory.

On the evening, Zabelaj had a match-high 17 kills, while hitting a whopping .316.Aquino also had 17 kills and added 17 digs. Junior Julia Mercado (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) played exceptionally well defensively, with 21 digs. Libero Suada Ibric (Bronx, N.Y./Marble HIll) contributed 20 digs.

The team will take the weekend off, and will next play on Tuesday, September 10, hosting St. Joseph's College of Long Island, at 7:00 p.m.