BRONX, N.Y. – The Lehman College men's volleyball team earned a non-conference victory over Mount Ida College, 3-1, in the APEX Main Gym on Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 25-17, 18-25, 25-14, and 25-23.

Junior outside hitter Jaleel Lino (Punta Gorda, Belize/Toledo Community College) led the Lightning attack with 14 kills, and added two service aces. Freshman opposite hitter Roberto Ventura Diaz (New York, N.Y./Cardenal Sancha) tallied seven kills and two service aces. Playing in his first collegiate match, freshman Henry Nunez (Bronx, N.Y./Walton) produced three service aces with just as many digs.

In the first set, Lehman (5-2) got off to a sluggish start by falling behind 4-0. After the Mustangs (1-8) took a 5-2 lead, the Lightning turned momentum into their favor by scoring the next five points, highlighted by kills from junior middle blocker Ramon Jimenez (New York, N.Y./George Washington) and freshman opposite hitter Carlos Segura (Bronx, N.Y./Marble Hill), to take a 7-5 lead. With the set tied at nine, Diaz slammed home a kill to put Lehman up by one. The Lightning would not trail again for the remainder of the set, and would go on to take a 1-0 lead in the match.  

After Mount Ida evened the contest at one set apiece, the Lightning found themselves in a 5-4 hole early in the third, but would respond by scoring the next six points, highlighted by a kill from Diaz and a service ace from junior opposite hitter Roberto Perez (Bronx, N.Y./Bronx Leadership Academy), to give Lehman a 10-5 advantage. A kill from Lino clinched a third set victory for the home team, putting the Mustangs on the brink.  

In the fourth set, Diaz produced back-to-back service aces to give the Lightning a 20-14 lead. The Mustangs were able to rally and shrink Lehman's lead to 24-23, but a service error by the visiting team clinched the match for the Lightning.

Lehman was very balanced on defense as Diaz, senior opposite hitter Miguel Gallardo (Bronx, N.Y./Salesian), freshman setter Emmanuel Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./Alfred E. Smith), and Perez each produced six digs. Lino added five and freshman libero Jose Bautista (Bronx, N.Y./H.S. of World Cultures) recorded four.

Segura slammed home five kills, while Lino and Jimenez had three block assists each.

The Lightning will travel to Hunter College on Monday, for the CUNY Athletic Conference Multi-Match. Lehman will battle the City College at 9:00 a.m., then take on the host Hawks at 11:00 a.m.