ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Manhattan Women's
Volleyball (1-1) split its pair of bouts between the Lobos of University of New Mexico (1-0) by a score of (10-25, 21-25, 16-25), and against the Huskies of Houston Christian (0-1) (25-22, 29-27, 25-19) inside the Johnson Center on Friday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
MATCH 1 (Manhattan @ New Mexico):
- Opening serve on the 2025 season was senior setter Sarah Emmons, who posted the Jaspers' first points of the campaign on a perfect set up from libero Teresa Garza. The Green and White accrued the following two points from freshman outside Helenn Montilla, and Hanna Kaczynska with her first collegiate block.
- Down the stretch, Katie Powers logged the team's tenth point off a setup from Emmons.
- Manhattan returned to form in the second set with Kaczynska opening the set in favor of the Jaspers. Back and forth the programs went, before the Green and White began pulling away from the Lobos with a two-point advantage courtesy of unforced errors and Katie Powers landing a perfect cross-court termination.
- The Jaspers put forth a valiant effort against the Lobos in the third set with a trio of lead changes, but couldn't prevail.
- Manhattan posted six blocks, with 24 kills on 86 attacks, with one service ace, courtesy of Emmons.
MATCH 2 (Manhattan vs. Houston Christian):
- Helenn Montilla served up an ace early in the first set, as Emilia Kuznar and Hanna Kaczynska later followed with some of their own.
- Hanna Kaczynska's ace proved to be the biggest lead either team held until the finish, also done by a Kaczynka kill, at 16-13 Jaspers.
- Manhattan faced a 15-13 midway through the second set, with a 7-4 surge shortly to follow capped off by a kill from Emilia Kuzniar.
- After a solo block from the Huskies to put them on top 23-21, the Jaspers clawed their way to another set victory, with an ace from libero Teresa Garza putting the nail in the coffin.
- The final set proved to be the most decisive, spurred by two stretches of four consecutive points, putting the Jaspers up 14-8.
- Emma Francesconi slammed down the final point, securing the sweep for Manhattan 25-19.
STATS & NOTES:
- Today's assist leaders were Sarah Emmons (20 @ UNM) and Emilia Kuzniar (39 vs. HCU).
- Through the second match, Aces ended at a huge disadvantage in favor of the Jaspers 7-1.
- In the second set, Manhattan hit at a 32.6% clip, a match-best.
- Fiona VanDyke and Hanna Kaczynska combined for 27 of the squad's 43 kills.
- Abby Morreale led the block party for Manhattan, going for nine throughout the two matches.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS:
- Head Coach Mauro Miletic: "Very happy with the win today. We started the day off well against a tough New Mexico team, and we knew if we kept the same energy and confidence it would pay off in the second match. We controlled our serve receive very well and put up a solid block, both things we've struggled with previously which made quite a difference. Our freshmen came out guns blazing, and our returners put all skills they've learned these past few years to good use. I want to highlight senior Libero, Teresa Garza, on an incredible start to the season. She did an excellent job on serve receive and defense today."
UP NEXT:
The Green and White return to action on Saturday, August 30, when Manhattan takes on Northern Arizona to close out the Lobo Invitational from inside the Johnson Center on the campus of University of New Mexico. Opening serve is set for 1 p.m. (EDT). The match can be viewed on the Mountain West Network.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
