The Lincoln University women's volleyball team opened their season against a formidable foe, Notre Dame of Maryland University Thursday night, falling to the Gators 3-0.
 
The Division III Gators went 25-5 last season and won their conference championship before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  They improved to 3-1 with the win, taking the match in straight sets  25-10, 25-9 and 25-16.
 
Kaymoni Kent (Philadelphia, Pa./W.B. Saul (Community Coll. Of Philadelphia)) and Jasmin Lewis (Baltimore/Western) led Lincoln with three kills apiece.  Tierra Russaw (Westland, Mich./Summit Academy) had seven assists and a match-high ten digs.  Lewis, Russaw and Tymera Crudup (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) each recorded a service ace while Kent had a solo block.
 
Lincoln led early in each of the first two sets before the Gators rallied to take control.  A 6-5 LU advantage was followed by nine straight ND points in the first set and a early 5-2 lead in the second set was countered by an 8-1 Gator run giving the home team control of each set.  Notre Dame led wire-to-wire in the third set with the Lions coming as close as 11-10 following Lewis' ace.
 
The Gators got a match–high nine kills from Alyssa Kerns while Sara Few set the offense with 14 assists. Ivanella Figueroa had four aces and Mary Marquez led ND with eight digs.
 
The Lions return to action on Friday, September 6, 2019 when they travel to Frostburg State University.  Tipoff is 6 p.m.