Box Score
NEWARK, N.J. – In its final non-conference match of the season, the Manhattan College volleyball team (17-12) posted a 25-15, 25-14, 26-24 victory over NJIT (6-21) at the Fleischer Athletic Center on Wednesday night. With the victory, the Jaspers are guaranteed to finish with a winning record for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in the last six seasons.
Manhattan never trailed in the first set. The Jaspers scored four of the first five points, but NJIT responded with a 4-2 spurt to pull within one at 6-5. Manhattan followed with an 8-1 run to open up a 14-6 advantage before the Highlanders went on a 3-1 rally to trim the margin to five, 15-10. The Jaspers used a 5-0 spurt to turn a 17-12 lead into a 22-12 cushion, and a kill by Teodora Peric (Chicago, Ill.) closed out the set, 25-15.
The Jaspers continued rolling in the second set, opening up a 16-6 advantage on a Peric service ace. NJIT scored the next four points to cut the lead to six, 16-10, before a Marissa Behrens (Honolulu, Hawaii) kill sparked a set-ending 9-4 rally. Another kill by Behrens brought Manhattan to set point, and the Jaspers took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-14 set win.
After Manhattan raced out to an 8-1 cushion in the third set, NJIT went on a 15-6 run to take its first lead of the match, 16-14. The Jaspers went back in front, 18-17, on a Peric kill, but the Highlanders scored the next three points to go up 20-18. Manhattan used a 4-0 run to regain the lead, and the Jaspers reached match point when a Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) kill made it 24-22. NJIT rallied to tie it at 24-24 before a Behrens kill gave Manhattan its third match point chance. This time the Jaspers converted, securing the set, 26-24, to complete their first 3-0 sweep since Oct. 18.
Van Dyk posted match-highs with 10 kills and 13 digs to lead the Jaspers. Behrens had seven kills on .429 hitting, while Peric finished with 17 assists, five kills and five digs. Milena Janjusevic (Belgrade, Serbia) added 11 digs, as Manhattan outdug NJIT 50-39. As a team, the Jaspers hit .144 (29 kills, 16 errors, 90 attempts) in the match.
Danica Vukotic paced the Highlanders with six kills, and she added eight digs. Emily Krachenfels handed out 12 assists, while Adriana Nieto recorded a team-high 11 digs. Tess Albyn tallied five blocks, as NJIT outblocked Manhattan 9-2. The Highlanders hit .049 (25-20-102) as a team.
On Saturday, the Jaspers (10-5 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) conclude their home schedule with a 1 p.m. matchup against Iona (8-18, 5-9 MAAC). It will be “Senior Day” at Draddy Gymnasium, as Manhattan's five seniors will be honored prior to the match.