Box Score
Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – The Manhattan College volleyball team picked a good time to play one of its best matches of the season. In the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament, the fourth-seeded Jaspers (20-13) had a dominant performance, posting a 25-16, 25-22, 25-20 victory over fifth-seeded Rider (16-17) at the Alumni Recreation Center to move into the MAAC semifinals for the third consecutive year.
In the first set, Manhattan took control early on. The Jaspers used a 7-0 run to go up 10-3, then increased that advantage to 13-4 on a kill by Second Team All-MAAC honoree Jade Gray (Boise, Idaho). After Rider pulled back within four at 16-12, Milena Janjusevic (Belgrade, Serbia) smashed a kill to start a 4-1 rally that brought the margin back to seven points, 20-13. The Broncs again trimmed their deficit to four points at 20-16 before Manhattan claimed the final five points of the set to secure a 25-16 win.
After Rider jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second set, Manhattan rallied to go up 8-7 on a Janjusevic kill. The Broncs claimed the next point to even it at 8-8, and it would be tied 10 more times before Janjusevic ripped a kill to break a 20-20 deadlock and start a 4-1 run that brought Manhattan to set point. Another Janjusevic kill, the Jaspers' 18th of the frame, wrapped up a 25-22 triumph that made it 2-0 Manhattan in the best-of-five. The Jaspers hit .326 as a team in the second set, committing just three errors in 46 attempts.
Rider again took an early lead in the third set, pulling in front 3-1 before Janjusevic smoked a kill to start a 6-0 rally that put the Jaspers up 7-3. After the Broncs trimmed Manhattan's advantage to 10-8, a kill by Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) ignited a 7-2 run that Janjusevic and Ivana Kostic (Grocka, Serbia) ended with a block. A Janjusevic service ace gave Manhattan a seven-point cushion at 20-13, but Rider responded with seven of the next 10 points to cut the margin to three, 23-20. However, Marissa Behrens (Honolulu, Hawaii) was credited with a kill to make it 24-20, and Rider hit it out on the next point, giving the Jaspers a 25-20 set win and their fourth 3-0 victory in their last five matches.
It was also the Jaspers' 20th victory of the season, marking the third straight year and fourth time in Mark Jones' seven seasons as head coach in which Manhattan has reached that plateau. This is the first time in program history that the Jaspers have won 20 matches in three consecutive seasons.
Janjusevic slammed a match-high 12 kills, while Van Dyk, a Second Team All-MAAC selection, finished with eight kills and eight digs. Gray contributed five kills on .625 hitting to go along with 30 assists, six digs and four blocks. Kostic, meanwhile, had six kills without an error on 15 attempts, hitting .400 while also tallying seven blocks. Behrens added seven kills on .400 hitting, and Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, Hawaii) notched 14 digs. Manhattan hit .218 (41-14-124) as a team.
Jennifer Borio led the Broncs with eight kills. Kaitlyn Griffin contributed seven kills and four blocks, while Veronica Koval posted a double-double with 15 assists and 10 digs. Brandie Hill distributed 10 assists, and Emma Aldaya collected 14 digs, as the Broncs outdug the Jaspers 58-48. As a team, Rider was held to .094 (31-21-106) hitting.
With the win, Manhattan advanced to face MAAC regular season champion Fairfield (19-9) in a semifinal match that will be broadcast live on ESPN3 at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Stags were the only MAAC team to beat the Jaspers twice this season, posting a 3-0 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Oct. 17 before posting another 3-0 win last Saturday in Connecticut. Fairfield has knocked off Manhattan in each of the last two MAAC Tournaments.
