Box Score
NEW YORK - After dropping a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matches over the weekend, the Manhattan College volleyball team made the short trip to Columbia on Wednesday night looking to get back on the winning track. Unfortunately, the Lady Jaspers (7-8) ran into a Columbia squad that was looking to extend an eight-match winning streak, which the Lions (9-2) did with a 25-12, 25-19, 25-17 victory at Levien Gymnasium.
Manhattan scored the first point of the match before Columbia rallied to go ahead 3-1. After the Lady Jaspers tied it at 3-3, the Lions went on a 5-0 rally to take an 8-3 advantage and prompt a Manhattan timeout. The Lady Jaspers claimed the first two points following the timeout to get back within 8-5, but the Lions responded with a 7-1 run to extend their lead to 15-6. Columbia used another 7-1 rally to reach set point, and the Lions claimed the set by a 25-12 count.
Columbia used another early run to open up an 8-3 advantage in the second set, but the Lady Jaspers scored the next three points, pulling within 8-6 on a service ace by Aurore Kullak (Beloeil, Belgium). The Lions rallied for the next three points to push their lead back to five before another 3-0 Manhattan spurt again got the Lady Jaspers within three, 11-9. However, Columbia responded with a 7-0 run to seize control of the set. Columbia reached set point at 24-16, and Manhattan fought off four opportunities before the Lions closed out the set, 25-19.
The Lions pulled ahead early again in the third set, going up 3-0 before Manhattan fought back within one at 3-2, 5-4 and 7-6. After the Lady Jaspers trimmed their deficit to 7-6, Columbia scored nine of the next 11 points to open up a 16-8 advantage. The Lions extended their lead to 23-12 before Manhattan rallied for five of the final seven points. However, the deficit was too much to overcome, and the Lions won the set, 25-17, to wrap up the match.
Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.) paced the Lady Jaspers with nine kills. Jamie Collareta (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) handed out 18 assists and added six digs. Julie Bies (Massapequa, N.Y.) tallied a team-high 14 digs, while Diane Strutner (San Jose, Calif.) posted nine digs. LaKell Havens (St. George, Utah) and Brittany DeGagne (Penticton, B.C.) each notched three blocks. As a team, Manhattan hit -.017 (23 kills, 25 errors, 117 attempts) in the match.
Madeline Rumer led the Lions with 12 kills on .526 hitting, while Megan Gaughn added 11 kills and eight digs. Cindy Chen tallied nine kills and nine blocks for Columbia. Colleen Brennan notched a double-double with 26 assists and 10 digs, while Kelsey Musselman had 12 assists. Katherine Keller notched a match-high 24 digs, as the Lions outdug the Lady Jaspers 63-45. Columbia also outblocked Manhattan 10-6, led by Savannah Fletcher's six stuffs. Overall, the Lions hit .241 (45-18-112) as a team. Columbia's nine-match winning streak is a school record.
The Lady Jaspers (2-2 MAAC), who have now lost three straight, resume MAAC play on Saturday afternoon, when defending conference champion Niagara (8-8, 3-1 MAAC) visits Draddy Gymnasium at 2 p.m. Three of Manhattan's next four matches are at home.
To follow Manhattan Athletics on Twitter, go to twitter.com/GoJaspers or visit Manhattan's Facebook fan page.
