RIVERDALE, N.Y. – With its biggest Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matches of the season coming up this weekend, the Manhattan College volleyball team takes a break from conference play on Wednesday night. The Jaspers (14-9) make the short trip to Fairleigh Dickinson (1-19) for their only road contest in a nine-match span, a 7 p.m. tilt that will also be their final non-conference match of the season.
Manhattan is coming off a 3-2 loss to Rider on Sunday afternoon. Senior Ellie Wiekamp (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) leads the Jaspers with 2.68 kills per set, while junior Malia McGuinness (Kailua, Hawaii) tallies 2.60 kills per set and sophomore Sydney Volovski (Oswego, Ill.) adds 2.53 kills per set. Junior Anna Kitlar (Kiel, Germany) registers 0.80 blocks per set, and freshman Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, Hawaii) ranks fourth in the MAAC with 4.45 digs per set. Sophomore Teodora Peric (Chicago, Ill.) distributes 7.70 assists per set.
Fairleigh Dickinson has dropped seven straight since a 3-2 victory over NJIT on Sept. 18, including a five-set loss to Sacred Heart on Saturday. Senior Violeta Slabakova leads the team with 2.64 kills per set, while freshman Courtney Kovensky adds 2.08 kills per set. Freshman Caroline Laton averages a team-best 0.78 blocks per set, and junior Deborah Hong tallies 3.36 digs per set. Sophomore Allison Butler hands out 8.11 assists per set.
The Jaspers and Knights have met every year since 2005 with the exception of last season, when the match was cancelled in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Manhattan holds an 18-6 edge in the all-time series.
