Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - The Manhattan College volleyball team opened its 2012 season on Saturday morning against Loyola Chicago in the La Salle Invitational. Unfortunately the Jaspers (0-1) ran into a hot-hitting Loyola Chicago squad, as the Ramblers (1-0) notched a 25-10, 25-13, 25-19 victory at Tom Gola Arena.
Loyola Chicago jumped out to an early 10-1 lead in the first set. After the Jaspers scored three of the next four points to cut their deficit to 11-4, the Ramblers responded with a 10-2 rally that made it 21-6. Loyola Chicago reached set point at 24-8, but Manhattan fought off two opportunities on consecutive kills by Ellie Wiekamp (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) before the Ramblers finished off the set, 25-10.
The Ramblers built an early advantage again in set two, going in front 8-2. With Loyola Chicago leading 13-6, the Jaspers went on a 5-1 run to pull within three at 14-11. However, that's as close as Manhattan would get, as Loyola Chicago ended the set on an 11-2 spurt to notch a 25-13 win and take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Ramblers hit .400 (13 kills, three errors, 25 attempts) in the set, while the Jaspers hit -.069 (6-8-29).
In the third set, it was Manhattan that built the early cushion. After Loyola Chicago scored the first point, the Jaspers rallied for the next three to go ahead 3-1. The Ramblers then pulled in front 6-4 before a 3-0 Manhattan rally gave the lead back to the Jaspers, 7-6. Loyola Chicago again went in front, 10-7, but the Jaspers claimed the next three points, tying the score at 10-10 on a kill by Mariana Furquim (Curitiba, Brazil). The teams traded points on three consecutive service errors, and Loyola Chicago added two more points to take a 14-11 lead. The Ramblers eventually extended their advantage to 21-15, and Loyola Chicago won the set by that same six-point margin, 25-19, to clinch the match.
Wiekamp had an impressive Manhattan debut, posting a team-high seven kills to go along with three digs. Furquim added six kills for the Jaspers. Hollegn Henderson (Long Beach, Calif.) handed out 11 assists and Kelsey Huntoon (Monroe, Mich.) tallied eight digs. Manhattan hit .038 (20-17-78) as a team.
For the Ramblers, Anna Eytchison recorded 21 kills on .485 hitting. Laura Purcell contributed six kills and hit .500, while Kathleen Vogel notched five kills, three service aces and eight digs. Brittany Brown had five digs and two aces to go along with 29 assists. Stephanie Kinane returned a match-high nine digs, as the Ramblers outdug the Jaspers 37-27. Loyola Chicago served seven aces and hit .353 (42-12-85) as a unit.
The Jaspers continue the tournament later on Saturday with a matchup against Bucknell (1-0). The Bison notched a four-set victory over La Salle in their first match of the day.
