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NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - In a matchup of the only two remaining undefeated teams in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, the Manhattan College volleyball team (9-6, 3-1 MAAC) saw its six-match winning streak come to an end with a 25-18, 25-16, 25-23 loss to two-time defending MAAC champion Niagara (10-7, 4-0 MAAC) at the Gallagher Center on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Purple Eagles moved into sole possession of first place in the MAAC.
Niagara took control of the first set early on, building an 8-2 advantage on back-to-back service aces by Sam Morgan. The Purple Eagles' lead eventually reached eight points at 12-4 before a 5-1 Manhattan rally, capped by a LaKell Havens (St. George, Utah) and Mariana Furquim (Curitiba, Brazil) block, brought the Jaspers back within four at 13-9. However, Niagara countered with a 5-1 spurt of its own to push the margin back to eight points, 18-10. Manhattan once again got within five on a Kelsey Huntoon (Monroe, Mich.) ace that made the score 23-18, but the Purple Eagles claimed the next two points to secure the set, 25-18.
The second set started off tight before Niagara went on a 12-4 spurt to turn a 4-4 deadlock into a 16-8 advantage. After the Purple Eagles extended their lead to 22-12, Manhattan responded by claiming four of the next five points to cut the deficit to seven, 23-16. However, Niagara won the next two points to finish off a 25-16 set win and head into the locker room with a 2-0 lead in the match.
Manhattan claimed the first two points of the third set, but Niagara rallied to go in front 7-4. A Malia McGuinness (Kailua, Hawaii) kill followed, though, sparking a 5-1 Manhattan run that gave the Jaspers a 9-8 lead. The Purple Eagles immediately countered, scoring the next four points to build a 12-9 advantage. Manhattan gradually chipped away at the lead, knotting it at 17-17 on a block by Brittany DeGagne (Penticton, B.C.) and Hollegn Henderson (Long Beach, Calif.). The Jaspers eventually took a 22-20 edge before Niagara rallied for the next three points to regain the lead. Manhattan won the next point to tie the score again at 23-23, but the Purple Eagles secured the next two to wrap up the set, 25-23, and their fifth straight victory over the Jaspers.
McGuinness led the Jaspers with eight kills and added six digs. Alexa Lampasona (Remsenburg, N.Y.) tallied six kills, while Henderson had a double-double with 24 assists and a team-high 14 digs. Julie Bies (Massapequa, N.Y.) contributed 12 digs for the Jaspers, who outdug the Purple Eagles 47-45. As a team, Manhattan slammed a season-low 25 kills and hit just .075 (18 errors, 93 attempts).
Hannah Hedrick hit .303 with a match-high 13 kills for the Purple Eagles. She also tallied eight digs. Amanda Wilken pounded 11 kills without an error, hitting .733, while Kathy Bibler had six kills and three blocks. Nicole Bayer distributed 37 assists and Morgan registered 19 digs. The Purple Eagles hit .246 (44-16-114) as a team.
Manhattan continues its two-match Buffalo swing with a 2 p.m. matchup at Canisius (6-9, 1-3 MAAC). Live video of the match will be available to JasperVision subscribers as a part of the new MAAC.tv package.
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