Box Score
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NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - On Sunday afternoon, the Manhattan College volleyball team wrapped up its annual Western New York swing with a visit to defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion Niagara. After a tight first set, the first-place Purple Eagles (17-8, 12-1 MAAC) recorded their 12th straight victory with a 25-23, 25-15, 25-20 triumph over the Lady Jaspers (11-13, 5-7 MAAC) at the Gallagher Center.
Manhattan built an early 11-8 advantage in the first set, but Niagara responded with a 9-3 rally to take a 17-14 lead. The Lady Jaspers won the next two points to get back within one, 17-16, before three straight Niagara points pushed the Purple Eagles' advantage back to four at 20-16. Manhattan rallied for the next three points, getting back within one, 20-19, on a kill by Jaci Rahey (West Milford, N.J.). Niagara scored the next two to make it 22-19 before the Lady Jaspers used a 4-1 run to tie it at 23-23. However, the Purple Eagles won the next two points to wrap up the set, 25-23.
Both offenses were on display in the second set, as Niagara pounded 19 kills and hit a stellar .432 (three errors, 37 attempts) and the Lady Jaspers hit a solid .300 (12-3-30). Niagara took an early 6-1 lead and eventually extended that advantage to 20-9. Manhattan scored the next two points to make it 20-11, but Niagara rallied to reach set point at 24-13. The Lady Jaspers fought off two set points before the Purple Eagles closed out a 25-15 win that gave them a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set saw a couple of early runs, as Niagara went in front 4-2 before the Lady Jaspers rallied back to tie it at 6-6. After the Purple Eagles used a 5-2 run to regain the lead, 13-8, Manhattan won eight of the next nine points, taking a 16-14 edge on a kill by Kelsey Huntoon (Monroe, Mich.). However, Niagara followed with a 9-1 spurt to open up a 23-17 advantage. Manhattan scored the next three points to get back within three, 23-20, but Niagara finished off the match with a 25-20 third-set win.
Diane Strutner (San Jose, Calif.) led the Lady Jaspers with nine kills and LaKell Havens (St. George, Utah) added eight kills. Jamie Collareta (Islip Terrace, N.Y.) handed out 29 assists to go along with seven digs, while Julie Bies (Massapequa, N.Y.) recorded a team-high 11 digs. Aurore Kullak (Beloeil, Belgium), Nikki Chamberlin (San Diego, Calif.) and Strutner each contributed eight digs. Overall, Manhattan hit .147 (34-18-109) as a team.
Amanda Wilken tallied a match-high 12 kills on .321 hitting and added six blocks for the Purple Eagles. Kari Honomichl registered 10 kills and hit .368, while Hannah Hedrick had nine kills and a match-high 14 digs. She also contributed four blocks, as Niagara outblocked Manhattan 11-2. Michelle James distributed 38 assists and hit .429, and Sam Morgan notched 10 digs. The Purple Eagles hit .262 (47-15-122) overall.
The Lady Jaspers continue their four-match road trip on Wednesday night, when they visit Fairleigh Dickinson (9-16) at 7 p.m. The contest will be Manhattan's final non-conference match of the season.
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