Manhattan Falls to Princeton In Four Sets

NEWARK, Del. – On Saturday morning, the Manhattan College volleyball team concluded the University of Delaware Invitational with a matchup against Princeton.  The Jaspers (6-4) played the Tigers (4-2) tight, but ultimately fell by a 25-21, 28-26, 23-25, 25-16 count at the Bob Carpenter Center.

After the teams traded the first 12 points of the match, the Jaspers went on a 7-2 run to take a 13-8 lead.  However, Princeton responded with a 10-4 spurt to go in front, 18-17.  Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) slammed a kill on the next point to tie it at 18-18, but the Tigers scored six of the next eight to reach set point, and Princeton took the set by a 25-21 count.

Manhattan got out to a fast start in the second set, opening up an 8-3 advantage on a service ace by Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, Hawaii).  The Tigers rallied to tie the score at 10-10 before the Jaspers then went on a 10-2 run to regain an eight-point cushion, 20-12.  However, Princeton responded with a 10-2 rally of its own, forcing a 22-22 deadlock.  Manhattan had opportunities to close out the set at 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25, but Princeton saved set point each time.  The Tigers earned their first set point chance at 27-26, and they were able to convert, finishing off a 28-26 set win.

In the third set, there were eight ties and four lead changes.  Manhattan took an early 4-2 lead before Princeton rallied to go up 6-5.  The Jaspers immediately responded, building an 11-8 cushion on a kill by Marissa Behrens (Honolulu, Hawaii).  Princeton got within one at 17-16, but a Van Dyk ace sparked a 6-2 Manhattan rally that extended the Jaspers' lead to 23-18.  Manhattan reached set point at 24-21 and finished off a 25-23 victory on a kill by Van Dyk.

Princeton took control of the fourth set early on, jumping out to a 7-1 lead before Manhattan called timeout.  The margin reached 10 points at 15-5, and Princeton got to within two points of victory at 23-13.  The Jaspers responded with three straight kills before back-to-back Princeton points closed out the set, 25-16, and the match, 3-1.

Van Dyk had her first double-double in a Jasper uniform, tallying 12 kills and 15 digs.  Malia McGuinness (Kailua, Hawaii) recorded a double-double of her own with 10 kills and 13 digs to go along with three blocks.  Teodora Peric (Chicago, Ill.), meanwhile, finished with 28 assists and 21 digs.    She also served three aces.  Yamashiro notched 22 digs and Sarah Haselhorst (Naperville, Ill.) contributed 10 digs for the Jaspers, who hit .144 (47 kills, 21 errors, 181 attempts) as a team.

For Princeton, Kendall Peterkin led the way with 26 kills and 22 digs.  She added four blocks.  Brittany Ptak finished with 15 kills, while Nicole Kincade had 12 kills and six blocks.  Cara Mattaliano also recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 15 digs, and Lauren Miller contributed 15 digs to go along with 56 assists.  Princeton outdug Manhattan 106-92, with Sarah Daschbach registering a match-high 29 digs and Kelly Matthews posting 15 digs.  As a team, the Tigers hit .223 (69-25-197) in the match.