Manhattan Falls to Hampton In Non-Conference Affair

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan College volleyball team wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a matchup against Hampton on Thursday night.  Playing at home for the only time in a five-match stretch, the Jaspers (15-10) dropped a 25-19, 25-21, 26-24 decision to the Lady Pirates (14-9) at Draddy Gymnasium.

In the first set, Manhattan jumped out to an early 5-3 lead before Hampton responded with an 8-3 run to go up 11-8.  After the Lady Pirates extended their cushion to four at 14-10, the Jaspers rallied for six of the next 10 points to cut their deficit to two, 18-16.  However, Hampton countered with a 5-1 spurt to make it 23-18, and the Lady Pirates took the set by a 25-19 score.

The Jaspers stormed out to an early lead again in the second set, getting four kills and a Jade Gray (Boise, Idaho) service ace to go up 5-1.  Hampton rallied to tie the score at 9-9, but a Malia McGuinness (Kailua, Hawaii) kill sparked a 3-0 run that gave the lead back to Manhattan, 12-9.  However, the Lady Pirates responded with four straight points to pull ahead 13-12.  The teams traded the next eight points before back-to-back blocks gave Hampton an 18-16 edge.  After the Lady Pirates extended the margin to three points at 21-18, a block by McGuinness and Clare Bozzo (Salinas, Calif.), followed by a Sydney Volovski (Oswego, Ill.) kill again trimmed Manhattan's deficit to one, 21-20.  Hampton scored four of the next five points, though, closing out a 25-21 set win and taking a 2-0 lead in the match.

Hampton scored the first two points of the third set, Manhattan took seven of the next 10, opening up a 7-5 lead on a triple block by Gray, Volovski and Marissa Behrens (Honolulu, Hawaii).  After the Jaspers extended their advantage to 13-9, the Lady Pirates countered with a 4-1 spurt to pull within one, 14-13.  Manhattan took the next point to make it 15-13, and increased its cushion to three points when a McGuinness kill made it 21-18.  A kill by Gray brought Manhattan to set point at 24-21, but Hampton responded with a 3-0 rally to even the score at 24-24.  The Lady Pirates then got a block by Vendula Strakova to earn a match point opportunity, and Hampton converted, closing the third set on a 5-0 run to claim a come-from-behind 26-24 win that sealed the 3-0 sweep.

McGuinness had 15 kills to pace the Jaspers, while Volovski finished with 11 kills and five blocks.  Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) added nine kills and 13 blocks, and Bozzo contributed four blocks.  Gray just missed a double-double with 37 assists and nine digs.  Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, Hawaii) collected 16 digs, as the Jaspers, who rank third nationally in that category, outdug the Lady Pirates 57-54.  As a team, Manhattan hit .183 (45 kills, 21 errors, 131 attempts) in the match.

Strakova, the NCAA leader in kills, finished with 18 for Hampton.  She also tallied 17 digs and five blocks.  Tatyana Thomas hit .769, slamming 10 kills without an error on 13 swings to go along with five blocks, while Kitija Megne handed out 40 assists.  Marija Kocevska, meanwhile, notched six blocks and hit .571.  Allysa Medina had 13 digs and Krista Kraskura recorded 11 digs for the Lady Pirates.  Hampton hit .283 (46-12-120) as a team and held a 13-8 advantage in blocks.