Box Score NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Lehman College men's volleyball team staved off five different match points, and pulled out a hard-fought, 3-2, victory at John Jay College on Thursday night. Set scores were 14-25, 21-25, 25-15, 31-29, 15-9. The Lightning strengthen their hold on sixth place in the CUNY Athletic Conference standings at 3-6, while John Jay drops to 1-8 in the CUNYAC.

Lehman (8-12 overall) has now swept the season series from John Jay (3-11 overall), 2-0.

Tonight, Lehman dropped the first set, as the Bloodhounds used a 7-2 run midway through to seize control. In the second set, the hosts used a 10-1 run to take a commanding lead. Ultimately, Lehman would rally, as junior Miguel Gallardo (Bronx, N.Y./Salesian) knocked home a kill to cut the lead to 22-18. However, John Jay would go on to win the set, and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.

Lehman would hold a tenuous lead in the third set, before an 8-2 run put the Lightning up for good. Gallardo had a service ace and a kill during that run, while sophomore setter Roberto Perez (Bronx, N.Y./Bronx Leadership) and sophomore Jaleel Lino (Bronx, N.Y./Toledo C.C.) had kills as well.

The fourth set was nip and tuck the entire way. With the score tied at seven points apiece, senior Marcos Coto-Batres (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) came to serve for the Lightning. Gallardo then recorded a kill before Coto-Batres served up an ace, and Lehman was off and running. However, with Lehman ahead 14-12, John Jay scored four straight points to get back in the set.

With the score tied at 23 each, a John Jay kill by Jack Palleschi set up the first match point for the hosts. But Lino took a feed from Perez and recorded one of his 27 kills to extend the match. Moments later, with the score tied at 25 all, again John Jay got a kill from Palleschi to set up match point, but Lino once again saved Lehman with a kill. For a third time, with the score 28-27 for John Jay, Lino was the savior with a kill, extending the match. Ultimately, with the score knotted at 29-29, Lino and Gallardo had back-to-back kills, and Lehman took the fourth set, 31-29.

As the teams were now tied at two sets each, a fifth and deciding set loomed. Lehman jumped out early, building a 9-3 lead. The Lightning would go on to win, with a Lino kill ending the match, and sending Lehman home with the victory.

On the night, Lino hit an amazing .447 on his 27 kills, against only six errors in 47 attempts. Gallardo had 21 kills of his own, as he hit .350. Gallardo added 14 digs, eight assists, and four service aces. Perez had 45 set assists and five digs.

Lehman continues its three-date road trip, and will play at York College on Tuesday, March 18.