RIVERDALE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Volleyball team (2-14, 0-7 MAAC) dropped to the Purple Eagles of Niagara University (6-9, 6-1 MAAC) in five sets (20-25, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 10-15) inside Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Early surges by the Jaspers were capped off by a kill from Abby Morreale to put Manhattan up 5-4 early in the first set.
- A dual block from Hanna Kaczynska and Katie Powers reignited the crowd with a slim 16-15 deficit.
- Getting back to within one once more, Niagara's momentum carried them to a 25-20 first set victory after a Kinga Wronska finisher.
- The Green and White lit a spark into the Draddy faithful to start the second, as Powers was joined by Brooke Johnson on another block to put the Jaspers up 7-0.
- Manhattan doubled up on the Purple Eagles at one point, with another Powers kill putting the home squad in the lead by a score of 18-9.
- Despite trading blows late in the set, Fiona VanDyke tied up the contest at one apiece with her fifth kill of the set.
- Back-to-back service aces courtesy of Teresa Garza started the third dance in a similar fashion, holding a 13-8 Green and White advantage.
- Trailing 20-17 late in the third, a stretch of eight out of nine points from Manhattan were highlighted by five VanDyke kills to end the set 25-21.
- Niagara grabbed a 7-2 margin quickly in the fourth, but the Jaspers fired right back as Hanna Kaczynska capped off a 9-1 run with an emphatic spike.
- While another block tied the set at 23-all, this time courtesy of Emilia Kuzniar and Morreale, Niagara's Sydney Wilkes sent the match to a fifth by a score of 25-23.
- A decisive set started with another exchange of points, as VanDyke helped the Jaspers get within a 9-8 score.
- The Purple Eagles grabbed six of the final eight points, winning the fifth set and the contest by a margin of 15-10.
STATS AND NOTES
- Freshman right side Hanna Kaczynska, Freshman outside hitter Brooke Johnson and Sophomore outside hitter Fiona VanDyke combined for 46 of the squad's 64 kills.
- Manhattan boasted two separate sets hitting at a .300 clip or better, in the second and third, respectively.
- Freshman outside hitter Emma Francesconi served up three aces, leading the team.
- Junior outside hitter Katie Powers led the block party with eight assisted blocks, a new career-high.
- Sophomore setter Hunter Kwan spread the ball around the most with 28 assists, while Junior setter Emilia Kuzniar followed closely behind with 17.
NEXT UP
The Green and White will hit the road on Friday, October 17, when the Jaspers travel to Fairfield to take on the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University inside William H. Pitt Athletic and Convocation Center. The match can be viewed with a paid subscription to ESPN+ for a 7 p.m. opening serve.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
