Box Score Patchogue, N.Y. – St. Joseph's College (4-1) snatched another victory on Thursday against Lehman College (3-4). The two teams were well matched in the four-set game that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
The Lady Eagles came out strong in the first set with Tiffany Willms (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) serving four unanswered points, two being service aces, to put SJC up 8-1. Lehman attempted to capitalize on the Lady Eagles' errors, and brought the score within six, but they could not catch up and SJC went on to win the set by ten points (25-15).
The Lady Eagles took another early lead in the second set, breaking away from Lehman after the game tied at four. Lehman grabbed most of their points from SJC errors and stayed in the game with some kills but the Lady Eagles' lead was too much to overcome. Three consecutive service aces by Melissa Garbaldi (Seaford, N.Y./ Island Trees) toward the end of the set put SJC up 22-11. The three final plays to end the game were kills from Heather Ferchland (Selden, N.Y./ Centereach) and Willms, giving SJC their second victory of the night (25-13).
Lehman came out determined in the third set, matching St. Joseph's point for point. After the game tied at 20, Lehman ran away with set capitalizing on two SJC errors and finishing the game with three kills in a row (25-20).
The fourth set was the most suspenseful of the game with Lehman coming out of the gate with fire under their feet. Soon enough they were up 16-9, making the Lady Eagles a little uncomfortable. SJC didn't give in though and fought back to tie the game at 19. The teams continued to battle back and forth for each point but Lehman's errors in the final minutes cinched the set and, subsequently, the game for St. Joseph's (25-23).
Ferchland had 14 kills, Manuela Palacio (Islip, N.Y./ Islip) had seven and Garbaldi finished with eight kills and five service aces. Julianne Tierney (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) had 38 assists and seven digs, Jessica Coello-Zichittella (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) came away with eight digs. Ashley Larrea (Islip, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) contributed with a game high of 17 digs.
St. Joseph's next game action will be at the Ramapo College Tournament on Saturday, September 15th, at 10 a.m.
