RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College volleyball team played its sixth match in seven days on Tuesday night. The Lady Jaspers (4-6) entered the match looking to build some momentum heading into the start of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play this weekend. Unfortunately, they ran into a hot Stony Brook team, instead, as the Seawolves (5-8) posted their third straight victory, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21 at Draddy Gymnasium.
Things started off well for Manhattan, as the Lady Jaspers jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first set. Stony Brook came back to force a 7-7 tie, then the sides traded the next eight points. The Seawolves took their first lead when Lindsey Gordon and Harmonie Calinda teamed up for a block that made it 12-11. Stony Brook scored the next two points to run its lead to three before the Lady Jaspers responded with kills by Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) and Diane Strutner (San Jose, Calif.) to bring the margin back to one at 14-13. However, Stony Brook rallied for the next eight points to take a 22-13 advantage and seize control of the set. Manhattan scored four of the next five points before the Seawolves wrapped up the set, 25-17.
After Manhattan scored the first point of the second set, Stony Brook scored the next five to establish an early cushion. The Lady Jaspers pulled back within three when a Rahey service ace cut Stony Brook's lead to 14-11, but the Seawolves rallied for nine of the next 13 points to extend their lead to 23-15 and force Manhattan to take a timeout. After Stony Brook went in front 24-16, Manhattan fought off five set points before the Seawolves clinched it, 25-21, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set featured extended scoring runs by each side, as Manhattan opened up a 4-0 advantage before Stony Brook climbed back to make it 4-3. The Lady Jaspers then went on another 4-0 run to increase their lead to 8-3. The Seawolves responded again, using an 8-2 spurt to claim an 11-10 lead. Manhattan scored the next point to tie the score, and the teams would be deadlocked again seven times in the next 14 points. After Stony Brook went ahead 19-18, the Seawolves used a 4-1 spurt to pull within two points of winning the match at 23-19. Stony Brook took the third set, 25-21, to finish off a 3-0 sweep.
No Lady Jaspers player recorded double-digit kills for the second straight match. Strutner and Rahey each had a team-high nine kills, and Casey Tidwell (Redlands, Calif.) added eight kills. Rahey also notched two aces. Julie Bies (Massapequa, N.Y.) registered a match-high 13 digs, while Strutner returned 10 digs. Laura Bellotti (Dix Hills, N.Y.) dished out 21 assists to go along with six digs, and Jamie Collareta (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) distributed six assists. As a team, Manhattan hit .124 (35-21-113) in the match.
For Stony Brook, Harmonie Calinda tallied 14 kills, eight digs and four blocks, and Ashley Headen added 10 kills. Lisa Doremus had a team-high 11 digs and Jeanette Gibbs recorded 10 digs, as the Seawolves outdug the Lady Jaspers 46-41. Corinne Perry handed out 22 assists to go along with three aces and six digs. The Seawolves hit .268 (45-15-112) as a team.
Up next, the Lady Jaspers begin MAAC action when Rider (2-9, 0-0 MAAC) comes to Draddy Gymnasium at 12 p.m. on Saturday. Manhattan took all six sets while sweeping the season series with the Broncs last season. A live webcast of the match will be available at www.gojaspers.com as a part of JasperVision. Manhattan concludes its MAAC-opening weekend with a visit to Saint Peter's (2-8, 0-0 MAAC) on Sunday at 2 p.m.