BRONX, N.Y. – The Sarah Lawrence College women's volleyball team continued its historic start to the 2026 season Thursday, September 17, sweeping Lehman College, 3-0, on the road.
The Gryphons improve to 8-1 on the season, marking the program's best start since joining the NCAA. Sarah Lawrence previously opened a season 9-1 in 2006 while competing in the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) under the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
Sarah Lawrence has now won 12 consecutive sets, cruising past the Lightning (0-5) by scores of 25-19, 25-14, and 25-18.
The Gryphons controlled the match statistically, posting a .174 hitting percentage compared to Lehman's -.011. Sarah Lawrence held advantages in points (49-22), kills (37-15), service aces (11-6), assists (37-13), and digs (55-48). Both teams recorded one block.
Nikolet Vataj paced the Gryphon attack with 12 kills, adding three digs and a service ace.
Caroline Combs recorded eight kills, eight digs, two service aces, and a solo block, while
Evie Iceton delivered a season-high seven kills with six digs and two service aces.
Sophia Costa and
Eva Anderson guided the offense with 23 and 12 assists, respectively. The pair also combined for four digs and three service aces.
Defensively,
Kai Perkins led all Gryphons with 19 digs, while adding two assists and a service ace.
Sarah Lawrence and Lehman battled to an 8-8 tie in set one before the Gryphons broke away with an 8-2 run to take a 16-10 lead. The Lightning pulled within four at 23-19, but Sarah Lawrence answered with consecutive kills from Vataj and Leonard to take the opening set, 25-19. Vataj finished the frame with seven kills, while Leonard added five.
The Gryphons faced an early deficit in set two before Leonard's kill tied the set at 5-5 and ignited a 13-3 run. Iceton accounted for four points during the surge as Sarah Lawrence built a 17-8 advantage. Lehman cut the deficit to 20-14, but the Gryphons closed the set with five straight points, including four Lehman errors, to take a 2-0 match lead with a 25-14 victory.
Sarah Lawrence jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind two Iceton kills and two Combs service aces in the final set. Lehman responded with five straight points to even the set at 6-6 before later taking a 13-11 lead.
A Vataj kill sparked a decisive 9-1 Gryphon run. Vataj, Perkins, Combs, and Anderson each contributed points during the stretch as Sarah Lawrence surged ahead, 20-14. The Lightning could not recover, and Vataj finished the match with a kill to seal the 25-18 third-set victory and the 3-0 sweep.
The Gryphons return to action Saturday, September 19, traveling to Drew University for a tri-match against Saint Elizabeth University and Drew University. Sarah Lawrence faces Saint Elizabeth at 2:00 p.m. before taking on Drew at 4:00 p.m.
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