Manhattan University Athletics

WEST HARTFORD, CT – Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, HI) became the Manhattan College volleyball team's all-time leader in digs on Friday, snapping the program record held by Ashley Watson '07 for nearly a decade.  She came into the contest seven digs behind Watson, and she broke the mark midway through the third set.  Yamashiro finished with a match-high 16 digs in the match, but the Jaspers (0-5) ended up on the short end of a 25-19, 25-18, 26-28, 26-24 decision against Central Connecticut State (4-0) in the first match of the Hartford Invitational from Hartford Volleyball Gym.

Manhattan held a 3-2 lead in the first set before Central Connecticut State went on a 14-4 run to open up a 16-7 advantage.  The Jaspers claimed eight of the next 10 points, though, and cut their deficit to three when a Yamashiro service ace made it 18-15.  However, the Blue Devils responded with a 4-1 spurt to go back up by six, 22-16, and Central Connecticut State claimed the opening frame by a 25-19 count.

Central Connecticut State rattled off five straight points to open the second set, but Manhattan stormed back, tying the score at 7-7 on a kill by Milena Janjusevic (Belgrade, Serbia).  The Blue Devils went on another 5-0 run to go up 13-7, and Central Connecticut State led 17-11 before the Jaspers scored three in a row, capped by back-to-back blocks, to get back within three, 17-14.  It would get no closer, though, as the Blue Devils closed out a 25-18 set win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

There were 12 ties and four lead changes in the third set.  After Manhattan built an early 5-2 lead, Central Connecticut State rallied to go up 12-8.  A kill by Zoe Lindsey (McHenry, IL) then sparked a 5-1 Manhattan rally that put the Jaspers up 15-13.  Manhattan reached set point at 24-23 before Central Connecticut State won the next two points to earn its first match point opportunity.  A Janjusevic kill kept Manhattan alive, but the Blue Devils reached match point again at 26-25.  This time Olyvia Chaltas (Temecula, CA) smashed a kill to tie the score, and she ripped another to close out a 28-26 set win for the Jaspers and extend the contest.

In the fourth set, Manhattan again raced out to an early 6-2 lead before Central Connecticut State went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-6 advantage.  With the score knotted at 11-11, the Blue Devils used a 6-2 spurt to pull in front 17-13.  After Central Connecticut State reached match point at 24-20, the Jaspers won four straight points, tying the score at 24-24 on a block by Ivana Kostic (Grocka, Serbia) and Lindsey.  However, the Blue Devils captured the next two points to finish off the set, 26-24, and claim a 3-1 win.

Janjusevic had a double-double for the Jaspers.  She finished with 21 kills on .315 hitting to go along with 10 digs.  Casey Monroe (Riverview, FL), meanwhile, hit .406 with 17 kills and seven digs.  Yamashiro had eight assists to go along with her 16 digs, while Lindsey tallied 32 assists and eight digs.  Taylor Hasley (Memphis, TN) added 15 assists for Manhattan.  As a team, the Jaspers hit .226 (60 kills, 24 errors, 159 attempts) in the match.

For Central Connecticut State, Raquel Quirarte tallied 18 kills on .317 hitting while also notching nine digs, eight aces and five blocks.  Morgan Woycik had nine kills, while Brooke Schwab posted eight kills on .583 hitting to go along with four blocks.  Kaitlyn Kushman recorded a double-double with 21 assists and 11 digs, and Erin McDermott contributed 20 assists and eight digs.  Cassidy Stankowsi collected 16 digs and Rachel Fish registered 14 digs, as the Blue Devils outdug the Jaspers 62-61.  Central Connecticut State hit .238 (53-19-143) as a team.