BRONX, N.Y. – The Lehman College men's volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker to NYU-Poly by a score of 3-2 on Tuesday evening. Set scores were 25-23, 13-25, 25-17, 17-25, and 16-14.

In the first set, Lehman (8-15, 3-8 CUNYAC) jumped out to an early 6-1 advantage. Sophomore setter Roberto Perez (Bronx, N.Y./Bronx Leadership Academy) set up sophomore outside hitter Jaleel Lino (Bronx, N.Y./Toledo CC) who tallied a kill to put Lehman up, 8-2. After Lehman went up 20-13, the Fighting Blue Jays (5-14, 2-4 Skyline) came storming back, with a 12-3 run, to take the first set, 25-23.

In the second set, Lehman trailed 13-12, but a kill from sophomore Ramon Jimenez (New York, N.Y./George Washington) began a 13-0 run for Lehman that clinched the set. Freshman outside hitter Edmond Badu (Kumasi, Ghana/Marble Hill) registered three service aces during Lehman's hot stretch.

NYU-Poly regained the momentum and won the third match, 25-17, putting Lehman on the brink. The Fighting Blue Jays grabbed an early 10-7 advantage in the fourth set, but senior outside hitter Miguel Gallardo (Bronx, N.Y./Salesian) produced a kill to pull the Lightning within two. Lino had a kill of his own to give Lehman a slight 13-12 lead. The Lightning got hot and never looked back, winning the fourth set, 25-17.

In the rubber set, the Lightning got off to a fast start, taking an 8-3 lead. After NYU-Poly rallied to pull within one, Jimenez slammed down a kill to give Lehman a narrow, 12-10, advantage. The Fighting Blue Jays scored the next four points to go up 14-12, setting up the first match point. Lehman would not go down without a fight, as back to back errors from the visitors tied the match at 14. NYU-Poly would regain momentum by scoring the last two points to clinch the set and the match.

Lino led the Lightning with 18 kills, while adding 13 digs. Gallardo registered 15 kills and 17 digs, as senior middle blocker Ahmad Abugharbieh (Amman, Jordan/Ittihad) had seven kills and classmate Marcos Coto-Batres (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Rye Neck) had 10 digs.

Prior to the start of the match, Lehman celebrated four seniors, who played their final home games in the APEX: Abugharbieh, Coto-Batres, Gallardo, and senior opposite hitter Aldo Pllumbaj (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./Lakeland).

The Lightning will be back in action on Saturday, March 29, at the CUNY Athletic Conference multi-match held on the campus of Baruch College. The Lightning will play the host Bearcats at 12:00 p.m., and then take on the City College of New York at 2:00 p.m.