Box Score
QUEENS, N.Y. - After starting the season in California last weekend, the Manhattan College volleyball team didn't travel very far for its match on Friday, as the Lady Jaspers made the short trip to Queens for the St. John's Classic. However, despite playing its best match of the young season, Manhattan (0-3) came up short on Friday afternoon, falling 25-17, 25-18, 22-25, 25-13 to the host Red Storm (5-1) at Carnesecca Arena.
St. John's jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the first set before Manhattan rallied back within two at 10-8. However, the Red Storm scored six of the next eight points to push their advantage back to six, 16-10. The Lady Jaspers tallied the next two points to make it 16-12, but Manhattan was unable to pull any closer. St. John's hit an impressive .548, slamming 18 kills and committing just one error in 31 attempts, to claim a 25-17 set win. Manhattan also hit well in the first set, hitting an even .300 (12-3-30) as a team.
The Red Storm pulled in front early again in the second set, taking a 5-1 advantage. However, Manhattan again battled back, capping a 4-1 run with a LaKell Havens (St. George, Utah) service ace to pull within 6-5. Leading 14-11, St. John's rallied for four straight points to take a seven-point edge before the Lady Jaspers scored the next three to get back within four at 18-14. The Red Storm tallied five of the next six points to pull within two points of winning the set. After Manhattan claimed three straight points, St. John's closed out a 25-18 win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
After the sides traded the first 10 points of the third set, St. John's scored four straight to take a 9-5 lead. The Lady Jaspers immediately countered that run, though, rallying for five of the next six points to tie the score at 10-10. St. John's won back-to-back points to go back in front, but Manhattan responded with a 9-2 run to pull ahead 19-14. The Red Storm got back within two at 19-17 before a kill by Diane Strutner (San Jose, Calif.) restored Manhattan's three-point advantage. The Lady Jaspers hit .357 (14-4-28) en route to a 25-22 set win.
It was Manhattan that took the early lead in the fourth set, scoring five straight points to pull ahead 5-3. However, St. John's took control from there, recording 16 of the next 20 points to take a 19-9 lead. The Red Storm hit .423 (13-2-26) in the fourth set, capping the 3-1 match victory with a 25-13 triumph.
Strutner notched her first double-double of the season, posting team-highs with 13 kills and 11 digs. Alexa Lampasona (Remensburg, N.Y.) tallied a career-high 12 kills and Havens registered a career-best 10 kills to go along with a pair of solo blocks. Jamie Collareta (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) handed out 36 assists and added six digs, while Julie Bies (Massapequa, N.Y.) finished with 10 digs and two aces. Overall, the Lady Jaspers hit .167 (48-26-132) as a team.
Anzelika Lukjansa slammed 14 kills and hit .444 to lead the Red Storm. Diana Banya added 11 kills on .429 hitting and Brunna Kronbauer tallied 11 kills while hitting .304. Gabriela Petkova distributed 45 assists to go along with seven digs, while Korina Yee tallied a match-high 14 digs. Sabina Papala notched five blocks, as the Red Storm outblocked the Lady Jaspers 7-4. St. John's also outdug Manhattan, 44-43. As a team, the Red Storm hit .356 (54-12-118) in the match.
Manhattan continues the tournament with a pair of matches on Saturday. The Lady Jaspers take on Denver (3-2) at 1 p.m. before facing St. Francis (NY) (3-3) at 5 p.m. Both matches will be held at Taffner Field House.
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