Manhattan Stumbles Against Siena

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – On Sunday afternoon, the Manhattan College volleyball team took on Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Siena at Draddy Gymnasium.  After winning the first two sets by two points apiece, the Saints (5-10, 3-1 MAAC) pulled away in the third to notch a 28-26, 27-25, 25-14 victory over the Jaspers (8-6, 2-2 MAAC).

There were 14 ties in the first set.  Siena scored the first three points of the match before the Jaspers rallied to force a 3-3 deadlock.  After the Saints pulled ahead 12-9, Manhattan responded with a 6-1 run, taking a 15-13 lead on a block by Marissa Behrens (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Malia McGuinness (Kailua, Hawaii).  The Jaspers still led 20-18 when Samantha Pethokoukis slammed a kill to start a 6-1 spurt that brought Siena to set point.  However, a McGuinness kill, followed by two more from Behrens tied the score at 24-24.  Siena had set point opportunities again at 25-24 and 26-25, but each time Manhattan fought the Saints off.  Finally, Siena wrapped up the set on its sixth try, taking the frame by a 28-26 count.

The second set was just as hotly contested, featuring seven ties and four lead changes.  Siena opened up an early 4-1 advantage before a Sydney Volovski (Oswego, Ill.) kill started a 7-1 Manhattan rally that gave the Jaspers an 8-5 cushion.  The Saints stormed back to go up 14-11, but Manhattan claimed the next three points to force a 14-14 deadlock.  Siena eventually built a 21-18 cushion and reached set point at 24-22.  However, the Jaspers responded with three straight points to earn a set point of their own at 25-24.  The Saints countered with a three-point rally of their own, though, closing out the set 27-25 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Siena again jumped out to an early lead in the third set, taking a 5-2 advantage.  Manhattan rallied to tie it at 8-8, but the Saints took control from there, scoring 17 of the final 23 points to claim the set, 25-14, and finish off a 3-0 match win.  Siena hit an impressive .371 (15 kills, two errors, 35 attempts) in the third set.

Volovski led the Jaspers with 13 kills on .303 hitting, while Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) notched a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs.  Teodora Peric (Chicago, Ill.) finished with 31 assists and seven digs for the Jaspers.  Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, Hawaii) collected 24 digs and McGuinness tallied 12 digs, as Manhattan outdug Siena 65-64.  As a team, the Jaspers hit .161 (43-21-137) in the match.

Jacqueline Skeen pounded 14 kills on .435 hitting and added six blocks for Siena.  Meghann Wright had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs, while Haley Howell posted 36 assists, nine digs and four service aces.  Bobbi Lin Kalama contributed 25 digs for the Saints, who hit .216 (46-17-134) as a team.