Black Knights Power Past Mountain Hawks

Friday, October 22

Bethlehem, PA

6 PM

Army West Point

13-6,7-3Patriot

Lehigh

6-15,2-8Patriot

Army West Point

Lehigh

Black Knights Power Past Mountain Hawks

October 22, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

MATCH 19
SCORE	Army 3, Lehigh 1
RECORDS	Army (13-6, 7-3) \| Lehigh (6-15, 2-8)
LOCATION	Grace Hall

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Army West Point volleyball (13-6, 7-3) powered past Lehigh (6-15, 2-8) 3-1, on Friday night at Grace Hall.

Savannah Bray led the Black Knights with 15 kills and 14 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Allanah Cutler followed Bray with 12 kills while Paige Fixemer added 11 for the team. Sayler Butters was a key component to Army's defense recording 29 digs to match her season high. The Black Knights were able to keep the Mountain Hawks to a .054 hitting percentage.

How It Happened

Army had control of the set from the start leading Lehigh 9-4 at the first timeout. Cutler, Fixemer and Emmy Barnhorst helped power the Cadets' offense recording three kills each. Army maintained a its lead, but Lehigh took advantage of the Black Knights' errors to get within three, 18-15. The teams traded points before Army took off on a 6-0 scoring run to secure the set 25-18. The Black Knights' offense finished with a .357 hitting percentage and held the Mountain Hawks to .062.

Army brought its momentum from the first set into the second, firing off an early 5-0 scoring run to lead 8-2 at the first timeout. The Black Knights took advantage of Lehigh's errors to help maintain their lead. Lehigh fought back to get within three, 24-21, but Army capture the set victory. Bray led the Cadets on offense with five kills.

The Black Knights fell behind at the beginning of the match, trailing 8-4 at the first timeout. Army's offense worked to stay in the set, but its attacking errors allowed Lehigh to keep its lead. Cate Buckingham threw down a kill to cut Lehigh's lead to one, 19-18. The Cadets took advantage of an error made by Lehigh to start a 3-0 scoring run. The teams traded points keeping things tied at 23-23. Ultimately, Army fell 25-23 to Lehigh.

Army found it's groove from the start of the set, capitalizing on errors made by the Mountain Hawks to ignite a 5-0 scoring run. The Cadets came alive on offense as Buckingham, Fixemer and Cutler each took turns throwing down kills. At the second timeout, Army had increased its lead to 16-7. The Black Knights kept the pace going to win the set 25-19 taking the match 3-1. Bray and Fixemer each finished the set with six kills, while Diana Ethridge racked up 16 assists.

Coach's Corner
"It is always great to win on the road. Lehigh gave us a good fight especially in set three and four. Their blocking was excellent today, we had to battle through their physicality to gain points. From now on, every match matters. Our approach towards every opponent will be to battle with grit, confidence and great teamwork." – head coach Alma Kovaci Lee

Inside the Box Score

Sayler Butters recorded her eighth match with 20-plus digs.
This is the third consecutive match that Allanah Cutler has recorded double-digit kills.
Sayler Butters tied her season high 29 digs.
Paige Fixemer tabbed her 11th match with double-digit kills.

Cadets' Corner

"Coming off a tough loss at home, it was really important for us to come out swinging in this game and really take control of our side of the net. I think we came out hungry for the win tonight and I couldn't be prouder of the girls beside me." – Sayler Butters

"We have always talked about how important it is to start aggressive, loud, and with grit from the moment we step on the court, and I am so proud of us for making that happen tonight. Even though we had a little dip in middle of the game, we persevered and continued to play for each other until the very end." – Savannah Bray

Up Next

Army continues its weekend on the road as it prepares for an afternoon match with Bucknell on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m.