RIVERDALE, NY – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Volleyball team (6-22, 5-12 Metro), in front of a large crowd for James Patterson Honors Program Night, fell to the Broncs from Rider (10-16, 9-8 Metro) in four sets (18-25, 25-16, 16-25, 22-25) inside Draddy Gymnasium on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The James Patterson Honors Program packed the gym with over 600 spectators in favor of the Jaspers, serving a free slice of pizza and a chance to win gift cards via a raffle.
- Rider jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage in the opening set before a kill from Lyla Auth put Manhattan on the board.
- The Jaspers continued to battle, with kills from Helenn Montilla and Katie Powers helping the hosts find their footing.
- Trailing 18-10, Manhattan rattled off four straight points, highlighted by a pair of kills from Mikalah Curran, to trim the deficit to four.
- Rider responded with a run of its own before closing out the opening stanza 25-18.
- The Green and White came out firing in the second, with a kill from Auth and a service ace from Ori Briger helping Manhattan take an early 2-0 lead.
- After Rider answered, back-to-back service aces from Abby Morreale sparked a six-point stretch to put the Jaspers ahead 8-2.
- Manhattan continued to build its advantage, with a trio of consecutive blocks from Montilla and Hanna Kaczynska pushing the lead to 13-7.
- The Jaspers kept their foot on the gas, scoring seven of the next nine points to extend the margin to 21-12.
- Manhattan closed out the second with a 25-16 victory to even the match at one set apiece.
- Rider regained control in the third, opening with four straight points and eventually building an 11-6 advantage.
- Kills from Montilla and Emma Francesconi helped Manhattan stay within reach, but the visitors continued to create separation.
- Despite a late push from the Jaspers, Rider captured the third set 25-16 to move within one of the match.
- Manhattan looked to extend the contest in the fourth, trading points with the Broncs early before a kill from Morreale and a service ace from Francesconi helped keep the set close.
- A four-point run highlighted by kills from Kaczynska and Morreale gave the Jaspers an 11-13 deficit before the hosts continued to chip away.
- Manhattan eventually pulled even at 18-all following a kill from Auth.
- Rider answered with three straight points to regain the advantage, but the Jaspers stayed within striking distance.
- A service ace from Emilia Kuzniar and a kill from Francesconi brought Manhattan within two at 24-22.
- The Broncs secured the final point to take the fourth set 25-22 and the match.
STATS AND NOTES
- Senior outside hitter Lyla Auth led the Jaspers with 10 kills while adding two total blocks.
- Sophomore middle blocker Helenn Montilla recorded nine kills without an attack error, finishing with a .563 hitting percentage and four total blocks.
- Junior outside hitter Emma Francesconi contributed five kills and eight digs.
- Abby Morreale paced Manhattan at the service line with five aces and added six total blocks.
- Setters Ori Briger and Emilia Kuzniar combined for 32 assists, contributing 17 and 15, respectively.
- Junior libero Julia Pfleger led the defensive effort with nine digs.
- The Jaspers finished with 39 kills, 36 assists, 42 digs, and 10 total blocks.
NEXT UP
Head Coach Brooke Alverson and the Jaspers will wrap up their 2026 tomorrow, November 14 on Senior Day against the Peacocks from Saint Peter's. Action from Draddy Gymnasium is scheduled to get underway at 2:00 p.m., with a pregame ceremony beginning at 1:50. Both can be viewed live on the Jasper Sports Network.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
