North Branch, NJ - On Monday night the Lions hosted Lehigh Carbon Community College, the top ranked team in the Region XIX standings. After multiple lead changes and many tied scores, the Lions would take the first set 25-21 over the visiting Cougars. In the second set RVCC was down 21-16 and made a huge rally to even up the score at 23 points a piece. Neither team found a way to win two points in row until the Lions finally outlasted the Cougars with a set score of 29-27. The final set was just as close as the first with the Lions getting a sweep of the Cougars with a 25-22 set win. Sophomore Madison Cobb was again an unstoppable force for the Lions at the net as she finished with a season high 20 kills on the night. Fellow Middle Blocker, Danna Gaitan and freshman outside hitters Dennicy Mota and Courtney Bordonaro all had 6 kills a piece. Ana Martinez Sanz and Skylee Ohler finished the night with 3 kills and 1 kill respectively.
As much as the Cougars struggled with the offensive power of the Lions, it was RVCC's length at the net that really slowed down the Cougars powerful attack. The Lions had 12 block assists on the night and Cobb registered the teams' only solo block. Even when the team wasn't registering points off the block they were getting touches that allowed the defense to pick up the hard hit balls or tipped shots from Lehigh Carbon.
Avalyn Stayskal and Akemi Amoretti led the team with 10 digs a piece and DS, Jocelyn Gross, ended the night with 4. Ohler recorded 37 assists on the night, the 12th time this year she's eclipsed the 30 assist mark.
The Lions return to action on Wednesday the 16th as they host the Roadrunners from RCSJ-Gloucester and 7 PM.