NEW BRITAIN, CT – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Volleyball team (1-9), in what is now Head Coach Brooke Alverson's first career win, emerged victorious over the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State (2-7) in five sets (25-23, 26-28, 25-20, 19-25, 16-14) inside Detrick Gymnasium Tuesday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Brooke Johnson and Emma Fracnesconi each registered kills early, giving the visitors a 5-3 lead in the opening set.
- Emilia Kuzniar's emphatic kill extended it out to 14-10 midway through.
- A service ace from Abby Morreale put the Jaspers up 19-18 as the first stanza came down to the wire.
- Through a tie at 22-all, Manhattan tallied three of the final four points, with Hanna Kacyznska's kill being the final blow.
- Starting off the second was a very even exchange, tying all 11 times through the first 22 points.
- CCSU took a 13-11 advantage midway through the set, later proving to tie for the biggest lead either side had until the end.
- The Green and White's Morreale clocked another kill to put Manhattan up 24-22.
- While Kaczynska put the road team up 26-25, but the Blue Devils rallied for the final three and tie the overall match at one set per side.
- The third set wasn't the same trading of points, but Katie Powers' kill at 15-all in set number three tied it for the fifth time.
- Powers later registered a service ace to tie it up again at 20 for each side.
- Five straight points after that was once again capped off by a service ace from Powers, taking the set and the match lead at 2-1.
- In the fourth, Powers and Francesconi tallied back-to-back kills to make a quick 2-1 jump to begin the set.
- Later falling down 17-8, five straight points from the Green and White put the Blue Devils back on their toes.
- Another service ace from Francesconi trimmed the deficit all the way down to two.
- It was the Blue Devils shifting the tide in their favor from then on, winning the fourth 25-19 and forcing a final fifth set.
- CCSU accumulated the first four points of the final dance, only for Manhattan to fire back with three of their own.
- The hosts also took a five-point lead as late as 11-6 after a solo block from Breanna Ginley.
- Despite getting within one multiple times, CCSU gave themselves two opportunities at match point after going up 14-12.
- Even with their backs against the wall, the Jaspers refused to lose, scoring the final four points of the evening, with one fatal attack error putting the icing on the cake, and seeing Manhattan emerge victorious three sets to two.
STATS AND NOTES
- Sophomores outside hitter Emma Francesconi (12) and right side Hanna Kaczynska (11), along with senior outside hitter Katie Powers (10), each registered 10+ kills in the Jaspers' win.
- The Jaspers tallied 10 service aces throughout the match, only their second time doing so this season (8/29 vs. Fordham)
- Manhattan hit at their best rate in the second set, with a .323 clip.
- Junior setter Ori Briger spread the most wealth, serving up 28 assists on the evening.
- Head Coach Brooke Alverson has now won her first game as a collegiate head coach.
NEXT UP
Head Coach Brooke Alverson and the Jaspers will play one final non-conference matchup tomorrow (Wednesday), September 16. The Green and White will go to Rhode Island a final time to take on the Bulldogs from Bryant. Action is slated to get underway at 6:00 p.m. and can be streamed live on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
