BRONX, N.Y. – The Lehman College women's volleyball team earned a key CUNY Athletic Conference victory, by knocking off the College of Staten Island in straight sets, on Tuesday evening, in the APEX Main Gym. Set scores were 25-23, 25-13, and 25-22.

The Lightning (5-7, 2-1 CUNYAC) got off to a sluggish start in the first set, as the Dolphins (3-2, 1-2 CUNYAC) built an early 8-4 lead. Lehman would rally back as junior setter Imani Dubois (Bronx, N.Y./J.P. Taravella) set up senior hitter Maria Richiez-Paredes (Bronx, N.Y./Notre Dame School) who knocked down a kill to tie the set at 10. Senior middle blocker Cari English (Yonkers, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) scored a service ace and gave Lehman their first lead of the match, 11-10. Sophomore middle blocker Salveira Gonzalez (Bronx, N.Y./RKA)then had back-to-back kills to cap off a 9-2 run for Lehman to make the score 13-10 in favor of the home team.

Both teams traded leads and went back-and-forth throughout the set. With Lehman hanging on to a slim 24-23 advantage, Richiez-Paredes took a feed from Dubois and slammed home her second kill of the set to clinch the first set for the Lightning, 25-23.

Lehman got off to a much stronger start in the second half as the home team scored the first eight points, capped off by another kill from Richiez-Paredes. The Lightning never looked back and took the second set easily, 25-13.

In the third set, the Lightning and Dolphins were engaged in a tight battle as both teams traded leads early on. With the set tied at 16 apiece, Gonzalez tallied a kill that put Lehman in front for good. Her seventh kill of the match ended the set and gave Lehman their second conference victory of the season.

English led the way on offense, recording 12 kills, two service aces, and scoring 15 points. Gonzalez added three service aces and three solo blocks. Dubois chipped in with a team-high 28 assists and also had three service aces. Senior outside hitter Julia Mercado (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) led the way on defense with 17 digs while freshman defensive specialist Lizette Medina (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) recorded 11 and Richiez-Paredes added 10.

The Lightning will be back in action on Thursday, September 18, for another conference contest in the friendly confines of the APEX Main Gym, as Lehman will battle John Jay. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.