Black Knights Hold off Mountain Hawks

Saturday, September 18

West Point, NY

7 PM

Army West Point

8-3,2-0Patriot

Lehigh

3-9,0-2Patriot

Lehigh

Army West Point

Black Knights Hold off Mountain Hawks

September 18, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

MATCH 11
SCORE	Army 3, Lehigh 2
RECORDS	Army (8-3, 2-0) \| Lehigh (3-9, 0-2)
LOCATION	Gillis Field House

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point volleyball claimed its second victory in Patriot League play after defeating Lehigh in five sets on Saturday night in Gillis Field House.

Paige Fixemer was a force at the net for the Black Knights with 14 kills and eight blocks, six being solos. Cate Buckingham recorded her second double-double of the season recording 11 kills and 12 digs. Sayler Butters played a big role in Army's defense finishing the match with 20 digs, followed by Riley Parchment with 15.

Army jumped ahead in set one, capitalizing on Lehigh's errors to lead 9-5 at the first timeout. The teams traded errors, but Army pulled ahead going on a 5-0 run to lead 20-18. Savannah Bray threw down the last point for the Cadets to give them to 25-20 victory. Buckingham finished the set with five kills, while Bray had four.

Lehigh claimed the early lead in set two, leading 11-9 at the first timeout. The Black Knights bounced back quickly going on a 5-0 run highlighted by a service ace from Nickerson. Lehigh fought back, but Army's offense shut them down to win the set 25-23. Fixemer led the team with four kills and one solo block. Parchment and Butters were key on defense recording five digs each.

The Mountain Hawks opened the third set with momentum and never gave up their lead. At the first timeout, Lehigh led 14-10 over Army. The Cadets fought back but Lehigh capitalized on Army's errors to win the set 25-21.

Lehigh took the lead from the start of set four, but Army came back with a 12-11 lead at the first timeout. Attacking errors started to get the best of Army, allowing Lehigh to stay in the set. Bray recorded an ace to tie the set at 21-21. Lehigh came back to win the set 25-23 forcing a fifth set.

Army took off from the start leading 6-2 at the first timeout. Kingsley Wallace recorded a kill that helped shift the early momentum of the set in Army's favor and the rest of the team joined in on the attack. Army won the set 15-9 to win the match 3-2 over Lehigh. Fixemer finished the set with two solo blocks and three kills.

Coach's Corner

"It was not our best volleyball game, but I am so proud of our team for persevering and coming back to win the fifth set," said head coach Alma Kovaci Lee. "We are very young, so I am thrilled that our team is able to keep a high level of composure in pressure situations. They were way more composed than me for sure. Paige [Fixemer] was great today! Every win in the Patriot League matters and our team knows that. Proud of our staff and team today, we beat a very good and experienced Lehigh team tonight."

Inside the Box Score

Buckingham recorded her second double-double of the season.
Fixemer recorded a season-high of six solo blocks.
Army finished the fifth set with a .357 hitting percentage.
Butters notched her second match with 20 or more digs.

Up Next

Army travels to Loyola Maryland on Friday, Sept. 24 to take on the Grey Hounds at 7 p.m. The Black Knights will then travel to Navy on Saturday, Sept. 25 to take on Navy at 7 p.m. for the Star Series.