Orlando, Fla. - What a difference a week makes. After being swept by Marist College in last Sunday's regular season finale, Manhattan Volleyball turned the tables on the Red Foxes by rolling past them in Thursday afternoon's MAAC Tournament quarterfinal. Behind a surreal performance by senior co-captain Whitney Judkins, Manhattan swept Marist by scores of 30-24, 30-19, 30-21.
Judkins, who is one of only two holdovers from Manhattan's 2003 MAAC Championship team, hit .652 and connected on 16 kills. In 23 attack attempts, Judkins made only one error.
Fellow senior co-captain Meghan Plunkett, who is the other player remaining on the roster from the 2003 campaign, also made her presence felt by notching four kills, nine digs, and three blocks.
With their senior leaders hungry for another MAAC title, Manhattan started strong and finished stronger. The Lady Jaspers jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the match's first game, forcing Marist to take an early time out after a Judkins' kill. Manhattan would not relinquish its early lead in the opening frame and would cruise to victory in game two.
With its back against the wall, Marist did not make it easy on the Lady Jaspers in the third frame. A Marist kill by senior Sally Hanson gave the Red Foxes a 19-17 advantage, but Plunkett answered right back with a kill of her own and sparked 9-0 Manhattan run to put the match to bed.
Manhattan freshman Kandice Watson looked like anything but a rookie in her first post-season appearance. The Pennsylvania native registered 11 kills and made only three miscues for a .364 attack percentage. The Lady Jaspers also received eight kills apiece from freshman middle Rita Welsh and sophomore outside Sherryta Stokes. Sophomore setter Alyssa Getzel ran the efficient attack to the tune of 43 assists, while also digging eight balls.
Alexandra Schultze led the Marist attack with seven kills.
Manhattan, the tournament's fourth seed, will face the winner of No. 1 Fairfield University and No. 9 Iona College in Friday's semifinal round.