Cambridge, MA- The Fisher Falcons (15-11) looked to clean sweep the season series versus the Lesley Lynx (5-18) last night at Medford High School. The Falcons put on a strong showing, claiming the match in a successive sets. This is the third time the Falcons have beaten the Lynx this season, each match resulting in a 3 set to null victory, taking 9 straight sets from Lesley this year.
Fisher came out with a slow start in the first set, initially falling behind 9-5 before services by both freshman Chyna Carter (Avondale, AZ) and sophomore Lia Aime (Las Piedras, PR) turned the tide. With a comfortable 16-11 lead, freshman Yeryvel Catala (Gurabo, PR) and sophomore Periya Yath (Amherst, MA) combined to serve out the first set victory.
The second set started in much the same fashion as the previous until 4 of Catala's 5 service aces pushed the Falcons ahead 5-4. Lesley rebounded from the setback tying it back up with the third, of the eventual seven, lead changes in the second. It was a back and forth battle between the Lynx and Falcons but the .231 set percentage of the Falcons eventually forced the Lynx to succumb to the pressure. Catala closed out the set with her final service ace of the night to give Fisher a 2 sets to none lead.
The Lynx bounced back from two tough sets to make the final games of the night a back and forth battle. Even with the Falcons .237% set percentage, Lesley was holding on tight. A late service ace by sophomore Maura Lammers (Augusta, GA) and some deadly strikes by the Manalo/Catala duo forced a completion of the set and match.
The Falcons had powerful showings all night from their squad with a team kill percentage of .191%. Yath led the team with .300% a 4 digs on the night. Catala was close on her heals with a .296% with 11 kills on only three errors. She closed out the night with a double-double with her 11 kills and 12 digs for a team leading total of 16 points on the night. Senior Natie Manalo (San Francisco, CA) had her own double-double of the night with 18 assists and 10 digs to lead Fisher to their 15th win of the season.
The Fisher Falcon return to action on Saturday as they take on Paul Smith's College at 2pm and compete for the NIAC Championship at 4pm versus Green Mountain College, the host of the days tri-match.