Box Score
Click here to view the 2011 Manhattan Volleyball Yearbook
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - If the Manhattan College volleyball team returns to the Yanitelli Center for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships next month, the Jaspers (14-9, 7-4 MAAC) should certainly feel comfortable in the building. Especially after a dominating 25-12, 25-9, 25-18 victory over host Saint Peter's (0-23, 0-11 MAAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Jaspers hit a season-high .458 in the win, slamming 46 kills and committing just eight errors in 83 attempts.
Manhattan seized control of the match from the outset, quickly building a 9-2 lead in the first set. Saint Peter's scored the next two points to get within five, but the Manhattan offense was just too good. With the Jaspers leading 16-8, a kill by Alexa Lampasona (Remsenburg, N.Y.) sparked a 6-1 run that extended the advantage to 12 points, 22-10. A block by Mariana Furquim (Curitiba, Brazil) brought the Jaspers to set point, and Furquim then pounded a kill to wrap up a 25-12 win. Manhattan hit .357 (14-4-28) in the opening set, while Saint Peter's hit just -.038 (6-7-26).
The Jaspers were even more dominant in the second set. Manhattan jumped out to a 9-3 lead before the Peahens rallied back within five at 10-5. A 10-3 Manhattan run prompted a Saint Peter's timeout, then a LaKell Havens (St. George, Utah) service ace extended the advantage to 22-8. The Jaspers reached set point when Malia McGuinness (Kailua, Hawaii) slammed a kill, then a kill by Lampasona finished off the 25-9 victory. Manhattan's hitting was sensational in the second set. The Jaspers didn't commit an error in the set. Manhattan had 16 kills in 26 attempts, hitting an impressive .615 to the Peahens' .037 (6-5-27).
Saint Peter's took its first lead of the match in the third set, pulling out to a 4-1 advantage before Manhattan tied it at 6-6 on an ace by Hollegn Henderson (Long Beach, Calif.). The Peahens scored the next point to go back in front, but the Jaspers responded with a 5-1 spurt to reclaim the lead for good. Saint Peter's called timeout with Manhattan in front 19-12, and the Jaspers extended their cushion to 23-13 before the Peahens rallied for the next four points. However, a McGuinness kill set up match point, and Manhattan closed out the 3-0 victory by taking the third set, 25-18. Once again, the Jaspers posted a solid hitting percentage in the third set, slamming 16 kills compared to just four errors in 29 swings (.414).
Havens had 14 kills and didn't commit an error in 19 swings, hitting a sensational .737 in the victory. She also tallied two aces, six digs and a pair of blocks. McGuinness pounded a match-high 16 kills on .448 hitting to go along with six digs, while Maddie Heck (Corte Madera, Calif.) notched four kills on five errorless swings. Henderson dished out 33 assists and Kelsey Huntoon (Monroe, Mich.) posted a match-high 10 digs, as the Jaspers outdug the Peahens 38-22.
For Saint Peter's, Paige Petersen led the way with eight kills. Anna Molokotina added five kills without an error. She also recorded 16 assists and six digs. Lalaine Rivera paced the Peahens with seven digs. As a team, Saint Peter's hit .098 (22-14-82) in the match.
Manhattan returns to action on Wednesday night with a non-conference matchup against Army (17-6) at Draddy Gymnasium. The match gets underway at 7 p.m.
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