By Briana Amaro

A hard fought effort by the Lehman volleyball team wasn’t enough as the Lady Lobos (5-18, 0-10) fell to the Del Valle Cardinals 3-0 Friday at the Lobo Den.

The 19-25, 21-25, 20-25 loss was preventable, according to Lady Lobos head coach Candace Warr, who said coming in with an expectation of winning led to Lehman’s defeat. 

“You have to earn it,” Warr said. “However, coming in from the beginning with that expectation (of winning) kind of killed it for us.”

The first set was all Del Valle as the Lady Cardinals (6-15, 3-8) pulled out to an early lead over Lehman. The Lady Lobos mounted a solid defense, which allowed outside hitter Natalie Herrera to score several kills to cut in to Del Valle’s lead.

Lehman, however, later fell short in its comeback as Del Valle scored two consecutive kills to widen the point margin and eventually take the set. 

Lehman rallied together in the second frame, remaining within three points of the Cardinals throughout the set. With the threat of extra points looming, Del Valle scored one final kill to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third and final frame saw several ties throughout the set. The heightened intensity continued until several attacks by Del Valle gave the Cardinals the lead it needed to put the game, and the match, away. 

“You have to work hard for it,” Warr said. “We had moments of that and wanting to come back from it….”

Warr said she practices a mantra focusing on the team’s expectations of each game. Not being overconfident, Warr said, will reflect on the scoreboard.

Herrera, who scored 10 kills, led the Lady Lobo offense. Kaylee Wipff had 10 assists and Mariah Pastrano had 10 digs.

Lehman will next be in action when it hosts the Akins Eagles at the Lobo Den on Oct. 20. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.