LEWISTON, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Volleyball team (2-8, 0-1 MAAC) fell to the Purple Eagles of Niagara University (1-8, 1-0 MAAC) by in straight sets by scores of 22-25, 22-25, 17-25 inside the Gallagher Center on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Coming off their commanding home opening victory last Saturday against Rhode Island, the Green and White were poised to continue their winning ways.
- In the first, the Jaspers propelled itself over the Purple Eagles by doubling the score at 10-5, off the back of the underclassmen trio of Fiona Van Dyke, Emma Francesconi, and Hanna Kaczynska.
- With the lead only at three, the Purple Eagles took a strangle hold of home court and converted on eight of the next 11 points, before never looking back.
- After exchanging points through the first 18, the Jaspers began pulling away behind a pair of kills from Kaczynska and Francesconi, before Manhattan was able to capture its largest lead of the match at six.
- The momentum came to a halt with Niagara posting nine of the next 11 points. VanDyke would tie the game with a cross-court termination but ultimately wasn't enough in the second stanza.
- Manhattan would once again have a three point lead in the third set before the Purple Eagles found its rhythm off the back of its home crowd, and take down the Jaspers while finishing the match posting the last seven points in its favor.
STATS AND NOTES
- Freshman right side hitter Hanna Kaczynska paced the Jaspers with 15 kills on 40 attempts, and added 10 digs, along with one block as the Polish native posted a double-double.
- Coming off her first career MAAC Rookie of the Week accolade, freshman outside Emma Francesconi followed up her career performance with eight kills on 27 attempts, while adding nine digs and one ace.
- Sophomore outside hitter Fion VanDyke added eight kills on 38 attempts, while logging 10 digs.
- As a team, the Jaspers logged six blocks on the night, highlighted by Helenn Montilla's lone solo block.
NEXT UP
The Green and White are back in action on Saturday, September 27, when the Jaspers play continue its Western New York roda trip to face the Golden Griffins of Canisius University for a 2 p.m. opening serve. The match can be viewed for free on the Golden Griffins Sports Network.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
