Tuesday undoubtedly would be the biggest test of the young season for the Northwestern volleyball team as it hit the road against Southern Lehigh.

The scoreboard may not have reflected a win for the Lady Tigers, but head coach Lexi Ashburne is aware that her team can compete with the area’s best.

Southern Lehigh used an 11-0 spurt to put away the first set en route to its 3-0 win over Northwestern. While the Lady Tigers (3-2) competed and hung with the Spartans late in the second set, Southern Lehigh (3-2) earned the victory in straight sets-25-10, 25-16, 25-14.

“I really do think that we have the capability of beating really strong teams like Southern Lehigh,” Ashburne said. “We’re making silly mistakes, and I think that is working against us. But tonight I was really impressed with my girls’ hitting and blocking.”

If not for a couple of unforced errors, Northwestern had the potential to threaten the favored Spartans in each set. Instead, it was the miscues that hurt the Lady Tigers.

After junior outside hitter Shante Duminie (4 kills) recorded a kill to get Northwestern within 8-6, Southern Lehigh went on its signature run. The Spartans tallied 11 straight points-some due to their strong hitters at the net, but also some due to Northwestern’s unforced errors on the other side of the net.

“I think this is our hardest game in terms of serving, aggressiveness and hitting,” Ashburne said. “Southern Lehigh had an amazing setter, and they have really strong hitters that can position the ball well. That requires us to have faster footwork. And that requires us to move faster. I think it definitely showed us what we need to do to get to the next level.”

Southern Lehigh’s Mackenzie Feight (11 kills) and Cortney Kylish (6 kills) seemingly had an answer every time Northwestern gained a little bit of momentum.

In the second set after clawing back to within 7-6 on consecutive blocks from senior middle hitter Katelyn Smith, Southern Lehigh went on a quick 5-0 spurt to increase its lead to 12-6. Duminie’s kill got the visitors within 18-13 late, but the Spartans closed out with a 7-3 stretch.

Southern Lehigh opened a quick 7-0 advantage in the third and final set and was never tested.

“It’s about confidence,” Ashburne said. “It’s about my girls believing in themselves and coming back, because statistically they haven’t always been a team that could beat Southern Lehigh.”

It wasn’t just the Southern Lehigh match that gave Ashburne confidence her squad can compete with anyone. In fact, it was the Tamaqua victory last week in five sets that really showed the first-year coach what her team is all about.

“That game is what showed me we have the ability to beat teams like Southern Lehigh,” Ashburne said. “The fourth set we lost 25-23, and we came out swinging. It’s games like that that show we have the skill and desire to win against tough teams.”

Senior libero Emily Corke tallied five digs, while junior setter Ashley Bennicoff finished with nine digs and six assists.