PRINCESS ANNE, MD – The Manhattan Jaspers' Men's Volleyball program (9-16, 6-6 NEC) fell to the Hawks of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (17-10, 7-5 NEC) in four sets inside the Hytche Center on Saturday afternoon, despite a quartet of Jaspers logging double-digit kills.

With the loss, the Jaspers' inaugural season ends with four teams logging a 6-6 conference record, but not enough to elevate to the final postseason spot in the NEC Championships.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Primed to compete for the final postseason spot in their inaugural season, the Green and White put together 10 of the first 18 points before the Hawks logged eight of their next nine to go ahead by as much as five.
• The Jaspers would respond with five of their next six to bring their deficit back within three, courtesy of a Kasen Owens block and Ali'itoa Morrissette service ace, but it was not enough for a first-set revival.
• In the second set tied at five, Jovan Marjanovic put the Green and White on top, before the Hawks responded with four straight.
• Then, Manhattan put together a three-point score streak, capitalized by a Marjanovic block, and tied the set at 12.
• After the Hawks put together four of their next five to go back ahead, the Jaspers tied the game at 21 before both teams traded points to 24. The Hawks then put together back-to-back kills to take the second set.
• Looking to keep its season alive, the Jaspers were trailing 8-7 in the third set. Manhattan took advantage of a Hawks' miscue before Wojtek Nowak and Kai Patchell sent a pair of kills into each corner and went ahead once more.
• Ahead by one at 13-12, the Jaspers recorded four of the next five with two key Hawks errors, and gave Manhattan its largest lead at four on the day.
• The Jaspers maintained a four-point lead with two points shy of keeping its season alive, and allowed it to continue on the hands of Marjanovic from a perfect setup by Drew Blonski and take the third set.
• In the fourth set, the Hawks came flying out of the nest with six of the first ten.
• Tied at 13, Manhattan added just one point in the next six from Marjanovic, but it wasn't enough as the Hawks put together a run down the stretch to take the finale in its home building.

STATS AND NOTES

• Kasen Owens added 15 kills on 30 attempts for a .400 hitting percentage, with one set assist, three blocks, and seven digs for a total of 17.5 points on the day.
• Jovan Marjanovic paced the Green and White with 16 kills on 22 attempts, for a match high .727 hitting percentage. The total for Marjanovic ranks sixth in all of Division I this season. Additionally, he logged one block assist for 16.5 points.
• Kai Patchell ended the season with 14 kills on 30 attempts, with one set assist, and four digs for 14 points.
• Wojtek Nowak logged 10 kills on 24 attempts, with three set assists, and seven digs for 11 points on the afternoon.
• Drew Blonski continued his marquee setting with 54 set assists, four kills on 10 attempts, one service ace, and three digs for five points.

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