Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - On Saturday afternoon, the Manhattan College volleyball team did something it hadn't done since its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship season of 2003: win at Siena. The Lady Jaspers (9-10, 3-4 MAAC) snapped their nine-match losing streak against the Saints (4-12, 3-4 MAAC) with a 25-23, 15-25, 25-19, 25-23 triumph at UHY Court at the Alumni Recreation Center. It was Manhattan's first win over Siena since Nov. 7, 2004 and first victory in Loudonville since Oct. 19, 2003.
Siena scored the first three points of the match and led 5-2 before the Lady Jaspers responded with a 6-1 run to take an 8-6 lead. Following a timeout, Siena rallied for three straight points to go back in front, 9-8. After the Saints extended their advantage to 20-15, the Lady Jaspers scored seven of the next eight points, and Manhattan took a 22-21 lead on a block by Kelsey Huntoon (Monroe, Mich.). Siena claimed the next two points to go ahead 23-22, but Huntoon and Jamie Collareta (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) teamed up for a block to once again tie the score at 23-23. The Lady Jaspers won each of the next two points to finish off the set, 25-23.
After Siena jumped out to an early 6-2 edge in the second set, Manhattan rallied for three straight points to get back within one, 6-5. The Saints responded with a 4-0 run to bring their lead back to five points at 10-5 before Manhattan returned the favor, pulling within 10-9 on Huntoon's solo block. However, the Saints rallied for the next six points and eight of the next nine to build an eight-point, 18-10 cushion. Siena won the second set 25-15 to even the match.
Manhattan used a 4-1 run to build a 6-3 lead early in the third set before Siena battled back within two, 8-6. The Lady Jaspers responded with a 4-1 rally to bring their lead back to five points, 12-7, but a 5-0 Siena run that tied the score at 12-12 followed. After a Manhattan timeout, a block by Brittany DeGagne (Penticton, B.C.) sparked a 4-0 run that put the Lady Jaspers back in front, 16-12. Siena once again pulled within one at 19-18 before a 5-0 Manhattan spurt brought the Lady Jaspers to set point. Manhattan closed out the set, 25-19, to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five affair.
In the fourth set, Siena again jumped out to an early lead, this time pulling out to an 8-4 advantage on a Taylor Akana service ace. Manhattan rallied back, though, scoring six of the next seven points and taking a 10-9 lead on a kill by Diane Strutner (San Jose, Calif.). After the Lady Jaspers extended their lead to 14-12, the Saints won the next four points and seven of the next eight to build a four-point advantage of their own, 19-15. However, the Lady Jaspers once again battled back, scoring the next four points to tie it at 19-19. There were ties at 20-20, 21-21, 22-22 and 23-23 before an Alexa Lampasona (Remensburg, N.Y.) kill brought the Lady Jaspers to match point. Huntoon then dunked a free ball onto the Siena side of the net to finish off the set, 25-23, and give Manhattan its first victory over the Saints in six years. The Lady Jaspers hit a solid .405 (17 kills, two errors, 37 attempts) in the fourth set. Siena's offense was just as strong in the fourth set, as the Saints hit .316 (17-5-38).
"I'm very proud of this team," Head Coach Mark Jones said. "We were mentally focused and very strong throughout the match today. Our defense is really stepping it up, and that gave us a lot of chances on the outside. Beating Siena, which is traditionally one of the best teams in the conference, shows how well we've been able to persevere and overcome adversity."
Strutner led the way for Manhattan with her second straight double-double. She tallied 16 kills and 15 digs. Lampasona added 11 kills, while Collareta had a double-double with 33 assists and 10 digs. Nikki Chamberlin (San Diego, Calif.) posted 15 digs and Julie Bies (Massapequa, N.Y.) notched 13 digs. The Lady Jaspers outblocked the Saints 10-8, led by five blocks apiece from DeGagne and Huntoon. Manhattan didn't commit a service error for the first time this season and hit .148 (43-20-155) as a team.
For the Saints, Akana had a double-double with a match-high 24 kills and 12 digs. Brittany Lintelman posted 14 kills on .500 hitting to go along with four blocks, while Brianne Bobo just missed a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs. Elizabeth Ives handed out a match-high 45 assists and added three service aces, while Sarah Sivertson distributed 12 assists. Lesli Akeo had 30 digs to lead four Saints in double figures, as Siena outdug Manhattan 73-68. Sarah Horvath recorded 12 digs and Blair Atkins contributed five blocks for the Saints. Overall, Siena hit .180 (59-29-167) in the match.
Manhattan looks to get back to .500 on Sunday, when Loyola (8-13, 2-5 MAAC) visits Draddy Gymnasium for a 3 p.m. matchup. It will be "Lee National Denim Day" for breast cancer awareness, and all fans are encouraged to come to the match wearing pink shirts and jeans, the official attire of National Denim Day.
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