RIVERDALE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Volleyball team (3-14, 2-4 Metro), back inside Draddy Gymnasium, took home a tight victory against the Purple Eagles of Niagara (1-13, 0-6 Metro) in four sets (27-25, 22-25, 25-21, 17-25, 18-16) on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Play stayed even to open the first set, as a dual block from Helenn Montilla and Hanna Kaczynska gave the Jaspers their largest advantage of two at 7-5.
- Niagara tied at every point from 10-14, later taking a lead of their own at 17-14 following a Payton Lee kill.
- The Purple Eagles got as close as 22-18 late in the first, but the Green and White clawed back to tie at 23 after two straight kills from Kaczynska.
- Two straight attack errors on behalf of the visitors pointed the opener towards Manhattan 27-25, the first of which included a dual block from Katie Powers and Abby Morreale.
- It was the visitors who came out with a message to start the second set, as six straight scores included two service aces from Paisley Ka'ahanui.
- Manhattan gradually crawled their way back, as Karsyn Harris served up an ace of her own to cut the deficit to 10-8.
- Niagara went back up six midway through the set, only for the Jaspers to respond once more, with Morreale's service ace tying the set at 18.
- Three straight errors from the Purple and White gave the hosts a 21-19 edge, but Niagara finished out on a 6-1 stretch to tie the match at one set apiece.
- A change of pace came in the third, reverting back to more of what the crowd saw in the first.
- Each side played close through the first 14 points, with Anna Duncan's service ace putting Manhattan up 10-7.
- The road team roared back midway through, taking a two point advantage at 15-13.
- Two consecutive dual blocks, with Montilla contributing to both, gave the Green and White their greatest lead of the set thus far at 21-16.
- Powers put the decisive kill down on the floor to win the third 25-21.
- Niagara won seven of the first 10 points to begin the fourth set.
- A dual block from Kaczynska and Montilla trimmed that margin down to one at 11-10.
- The visitor' reestablished the pace they wanted to set, going up double digits at 22-12, later proving to be their largest lead of the set.
- Montilla contributed another block down the stretch, but the Purple Eagles forced a decisive fifth set 25-17.
- Manhattan scored the first four of the final set, capped off by a service ace from Emma Francesconi.
- A service error on behalf of Niagara put the Jaspers up 6-2 through the first eight points.
- Out of a timeout, the Purple Eagles found a way to come all the way back, tying at 11 and later having match point at 14-11.
- Three straight points, capped off by a service ace from Emilia Kuzniar, flipped the match on its head to tie at 14.
- With two more deadlocks at 15 and 16, Manhattan scored the final three, with a Duncan service ace igniting the Jasper faithful for a five-set victory.
STATS AND NOTES
- Sophomore right side Hanna Kaczynska led the squad in kills with 15, only the third time she's hit the mark in 2026.
- Senior outside hitter Katie Powers followed shortly behind with 13 of her own, second-most of her season.
- Sophomore middle blocker Helenn Montilla contributed the most to the block party, setting a new career-high with nine.
- Senior middle blocker Abby Morreale served up four aces.
- Manhattan hit at their best rate in the second set, with a .355 clip.
- Junior and Senior setters Ori Briger and Emilia Kuzniar spread the wealth the most, accounting for 47 of the Jaspers' 49 assists.
NEXT UP
Alverson and the Jaspers will continue their home stint tomorrow, Saturday, October 10, playing host to the Golden Griffins of Canisius. Action from Draddy Gymnasium is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. and can be streamed live on Jasper Sports Network.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
