STATEN ISLAND, NY—The York College women's volleyball team returned to CUNY Athletic Conference play on Columbus Day on the College of Staten Island campus.  Unfortunately for the Cardinals, York lost a heartbreaker to Lehman, 3-2 (15-25, 25-12, 23-25, 25-23, 15-6) in the opening match, before losing in straight sets, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-20) to the City College of New York.
 
The Lehman match would have been an impressive win for the Cardinals, as the Lightning sit at 5-2 in CUNYAC play and are in third place.  CCNY is right behind them in fourth place at 5-3.  York, who is now 4-19, 1-5 CUNYAC, are currently in eighth place with matches against John Jay College and Staten Island still to come.  Wins against both those teams would move them up to sixth place.
 
Against Lehman, York had an dominant first set, hitting .421 and going on a 10-2 run midway through the set, that helped turn a 10-8 lead to sizeable, 20-10 advantage.  However, Lehman won the second set just as easily as York won the first. 
 
In the third, York rallied from a 21-17 deficit to tie the match, before winning, 25-23, after a Lightning attack error.  In the fourth, it was the Lighting's turn to make a comeback, as they erased a 19-13 York lead and went on to even the score. 
 
With momentum on its side following the come-from-behind fourth-set victory, the Lightning came out strong in the deciding set, taking the first five points and never looking back.
 
Shauncia McClendon had one of the best matches of her career for York, recording 12 kills, while hitting .273 and combining on four blocks.  NaaDira Patrick also performed well, adding seven kills, 17 digs and three total blocks.  Allison Li finished with four kills, five aces and 12 digs.  The Lightning were led by Cari English, who had 18 kills, and by Julia Mercado, who added 14 kills.
 
Against CCNY, York kept it close in each set but the Beavers pulled away in the final few points each time to get the win.  Patrick had another nice game for the Cardinals in defeat, finishing with eight kills and five digs. Kiranjeet Kaur led York in digs with 11, while also adding 15 assists.
 
York will return to action on Thursday with a non-conference contest at St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn at 7 p.m.