NEW HAVEN, CT – The Manhattan Jaspers Women's Volleyball team (0-4), in their first match during this weekend's Yale Invitational, were taken down by the Broncos of Santa Clara (2-3) in three sets (19-25, 13-25, 20-25) inside John J. Lee Amphitheater on Friday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Broncos established control early in the opening set, capturing eight of the match's first ten points.
- Manhattan responded with back-to-back service aces from Emilia Kuzniar, and a later kill from Brooke Johnson cut the lead to three.
- Each side continued going back and forth midway through, as Karsyn Harris and Katie Powers chipping in as well to kepe the lead at three at 16-13.
- While the Green and White held in to the end, Santa Clara was able to outlast the Jaspers and take the opening set.
- More of the opening pace returned for the second stanza, with the Red and White taking seven of the first eight tallies this time around.
- Lyla Auth and Harris kept things tight with another sequence of consecutive kills, trimming the edge to 10-6.
- A subsequent 10-1 run from the Broncos continued to set the tone, going up 20-7 in the blink of an eye.
- Despite two service aces from Ori Briger and a late kill from Abby Morreale, Santa Clara captured the second set as well to take a commanding lead.
- It was the Jaspers in the third set coming out to a hot start, as an ace from Kuzniar and another from Emma Francesconi put Manhattan up 5-3.
- After a surge from the Broncos midway through, two kills from Francesconi capped off a spurt of points to put the Green and White back on top 12-11.
- The two sides were knotted up at 16-all after another kill from Johnson.
- Even with the resiliency, Santa Clara scored nine of the next 14, enough to lift them over Manhattan in three sets.
STATS AND NOTES
- Redshirt Sophomore outside hitter Brooke Johnson led her teammates with seven kills, her second consecutive match leading the bunch.
- The Jaspers hit at their best rate in the opening set, with a .296 clip.
- Senior and Junior setters Emilia Kuzniar and Ori Briger each clocked three service aces.
NEXT UP
Head Coach Brooke Alverson and the Jaspers will conclude their weekend at the Yale Invitational tomorrow (Saturday), September 5 with a doubleheader. First up is the host Bulldogs at 1 p.m., followed by Hofstra at 4:30 p.m., both matches can be streamed live on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
Follow Manhattan Women's Volleyball on X and Instagram (@JaspersVB).
