NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Volleyball team (6-17, 5-7 Metro), after losing the first two sets of the match, emerged victorious over the cross-town Gaels from Iona (11-13, 6-6 Metro) in five sets (22-25, 12-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-13) on Tuesday evening at Hynes Athletics Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Despite slipping early, the Jaspers clawed back to tie the opener early at seven, following three straight attack errors, one of them due to a solo block from Abby Morreale.
- Manhattan then tied at every point from eight through 13 before back-to-back kills from Hanna Kaczynska put the Green and White in front at 15-13.
- Iona steadily climbed their way back in, taking a three point edge at 20-17 after a service ace.
- The Jaspers weren't able to get inside of a two point deficit the rest of the way, with the Gaels prevailing 25-22 through one.
- It was the hosts setting the tone in set number two, winning 10 of the first 13 points.
- Late in the set, Manhattan scored three points in a row after another stretch of attack errors to cut the deficit to 22-11.
- Another service ace for the Gaels finished off set number two, giving the home team a two-set advantage.
- Katie Powers and Morreale chipped in the first two points for the Green and White with a pair of kills.
- Five straight for the Jaspers included a kill from Lyla Auth, her first since September 25, to increase the margin to six at 14-6.
- Kaczynska chimed in with two more kills to score the 19th and 20th points for Manhattan, doubling up on Iona's 10.
- Surviving the wave, Morreale put on the finishing touch as the Jaspers won their first set of the night.
- Emma Francesconi started out the fourth set with back-to-back service aces as a part of an opening 5-1 run.
- A dual block from Helenn Montilla and Kaczynska stretched out the Manhattan lead to 17-10.
- The visitors ripped off five in a row, capped off by another dual block from Kaczynska and Morreale to get within two points of the set at 23-14.
- Iona surged with three in a row immediately after, but Manhattan pulled through yet again as Ori Briger's service ace forced a decisive fifth set.
- The Gaels started off with an ace, but the next three were scored by the Jaspers as Katie Powers scored the third and fourth point ot go up 4-2.
- Three of the next four were also tallied by the Green and White, forcing a timeout from Iona after going down 7-3.
- Getting as close as 9-8, another Powers kill gave Manhattan four set points, taking a 14-10 lead.
- Even with Iona getting the first three, Powers sent the crowd home with her 15th kill of the evening, giving the Jaspers the five-set win.
STATS AND NOTES
- Senior outside hitter Katie Powers led the Jaspers with 15 kills, her third time reaching the mark in 2026.
- Senior middle blocker Abby Morreale and sophomore outside hitter Emma Francesconi followed behind her with 11 and 10, respectively.
- Morreale also led the squad in blocks with seven.
- Manhattan hit at their best rate in the fourth set, with a .367 clip.
- Junior and senior setters Ori Briger and Emilia Kuzniar spread the wealth the most, contributing 55 of the Jaspers' 62 assists.
NEXT UP
Head Coach Brooke Alverson and the Jaspers will return home to Draddy Gymnasium for a weekend set starting Friday, October 30. Their first matchup will come against the Red Foxes from Marist. Action from Riverdale will begin at 6:00 p.m., and can be streamed live on Jasper Sports Network.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
