Box Score 1 Bethlehem, Pa. – The Saint Peter's women's volleyball team lost in each of their non-conference matches Saturday afternoon against Lehigh and New Hampshire.
The Peacocks first match of the afternoon came against tournament host Lehigh. Junior Dayana Arrufat-Rondon (Truyillo, Puerto Rico/Carvin School) finished with a team-high eight kills, as Lehigh would win the match in straight sets.
In the first set, Saint Peter's jumped out early to a 2-1 lead behind an error by the Mountain Hawks and a kill from senior Laura Reinhart (Belvidere, N.J/Newton). Lehigh regrouped, going on a 9-2 run to take a commanding lead in the set. The Peacocks got within four points of tying the game, but it wasn't enough, as Lehigh would win the first set, 25-15.
In the second set, consecutive attack errors by Lehigh would give Saint Peter's an early 3-0 lead. Kills by Arrufat-Rondon and senior Stephanie Mills (Albuquerque, N.M./Del Norte) helped the Peacocks build an 8-4 lead in the set. Lehigh responded with a 5-1 run to tie the score at nine. The set continued to go back and forth. Arrufat and Reinhart got into a rhythm, tallying three kills a piece in a run that would give Saint Peter's a 20-15 lead. Lehigh would not go away, going a 6-1 run to tie the game at 21-21. Saint Peter's managed to take a 24-22 lead behind a kill by sophomore Lauren Behrens (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) and two attack errors committed by Lehigh. It would be Lehigh that would prevail, scoring three consecutive points to win the set, 25-24.
The third set began with back and forth scoring between the two teams. Tied at six, Lehigh scored points to take a 14-9 lead. The Peacocks would respond, scoring two consecutive points to bring the deficit to three. Lehigh would pull away with the set, scoring seven straight points to take a 10-point lead in the set. The Mountain Hawks would win the third set, 25-16.
Lehigh finished the match with 34 kills, compared to 22 kills by Saint Peter's. Lehigh players Courtney McCutchan and Ana Vrhel both finished with double-digit kills.
The second match of the afternoon for the Peacocks came against New Hampshire. Behrens finished with a team-high nine kills, as New Hampshire went on to win in straight sets.
In the first set, the Wildcats jumped out to an early 4-1 lead. Kills by Arrufat, Behrens and freshman Meredith Przybocki (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) brought the Peacocks within a point of typing the set. Four straight points by New Hampshire gave them a 10-5 lead and they wouldn't look back. New Hampshire ended the set, going on a 15-9 run to win the first set, 25-14.
Second set, Saint Peter's started fast, taking an early 4-1 lead. The Wildcats would respond though, scoring five consecutive points to take a 6-4 lead. New Hampshire would take control of the set, going on a 19-9 run to win the second set, 25-13.
In the third set, the Peacocks kept the game competitive, going point for point with the Wildcats throughout the set. An attack error committed by New Hampshire, would give Saint Peter's an 18-17 lead in the set. The Wildcats would answer however, finishing the set on a 7-3 run to win the third set, 25-20.
After the weekend, Saint Peter's falls to 0-3 on the year.
The Peacocks return to action Wednesday, Sept. 4, when they travel to take on in-state opponent NJIT.
