BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania – The Marist volleyball team began its 2017 campaign with a four-set victory at Lehigh on August 25 in the Lehigh Fall Classic. Marist took the first two frames 25-22 and 25-21 before the Mountain Hawks got on the board after the third (25-16). The Red Foxes (1-0) then closed out Lehigh (1-1) by a score of 25-11 in the final period to earn their second victory over the Mountain Hawks in the last three meetings.
 
Turning Points:
Neither side went in front by more than three points in the opening set. Marist built its largest lead at 20-17 before Lehigh tied it at 22. The Red Foxes ripped off three straight points on to go up 1-0 on a service ace from freshman Sarah Austin.
 
Senior Kelsey Ediger swatted four kills in the second stanza to help put Marist up for good early on in the frame. Lehigh built a five-point lead and eventually went ahead 15-7 to start the third set. Kills from five different Mountain Hawks hitters kept them in the contest.
 
Marist saved its best for the final set, forcing four attack errors from Lehigh to build an early 8-2 edge. The Red Foxes also earned 12 of the matches' final 15 points.
 
Inside the Numbers:

• Lehigh had 26 attack errors to the Red Foxes' 23 on the night. 11 of Lehigh's attack errors came in the opening frame.
• Marist slammed 12 kills in the final frame.
• There were 21 ties and nine lead changes in the contest.
• Ediger (15 kills, 10 digs), sophomore Nikki DeSerpa (10 kills, 10 digs), and junior Taylor van der Biezen (38 assists, 11 digs) posted double-doubles.
• Junior Katie Brierley dove for a career-high 27 digs in her first career match as the Red Foxes' libero.

Quote:
"We are thrilled to open the season with a well-earned win at Lehigh tonight," Head Coach Lauren Amundson said. "We were tough from the service line and put in a great defensive effort. It's a quick turnaround for back-to-back matches tomorrow so we'll regroup and prepare for another test, but I really like this starting point to build from."
 
Next Up:
The Red Foxes will hit the court again in fewer than 12 hours and play back to back matches against Radford and Coppin State on the final day of the Lehigh Fall Classic. The contests will take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively August 26 in Lehigh's Stabler Arena.