Manhattan University Athletics

LOUDONVILLE, NY – After notching its biggest win of the season at Marist on Thursday night, the Manhattan College volleyball team needed another one in Sunday's contest at Siena.  The Jaspers (10-20, 6-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) got off to a good start, taking the first set, but were unable to maintain that momentum, as the Saints (10-16, 9-7 MAAC) rallied for a 21-25, 25-19, 28-26, 25-19 victory at the Alumni Recreation Center.

There were 10 early ties in the first set before Siena used a 4-0 run to turn an 11-11 deadlock into a 15-11 advantage.  However, the Jaspers countered with 10 straight points to go up 21-15.  After Siena closed within three at 24-21, a block by Milena Janjusevic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Marissa Behrens (Honolulu, HI) sealed a 25-21 set win for the Jaspers.  Manhattan only made one attack error in the set, hitting .419 (14 kills, 31 attempts).

The Jaspers took an early 4-1 lead in the second set, but the Saints responded with a 9-4 spurt to go up 10-8.  After Manhattan rallied to tie the score at 13-13, Siena went on a 4-0 run to regain a four-point edge, 17-13.  The Saints' cushion reached five points at 21-16, and Siena evened the match by taking the second set, 25-19.

Manhattan jumped out to a 14-9 advantage in the third set.  Siena scored 10 of the next 12 points to take a 19-16 lead of its own before the Jaspers battled back to tie it at 22-22.  Siena reached set point first at 24-23, but Janjusevic slammed a kill to knot the score at 24-24.  After the Saints fought off two set points at 25-24 and 26-25, Siena earned its second opportunity at 27-26.  This time the Saints converted, winning the set 28-26 to go ahead 2-1 in the match.

Siena went up 6-0 in the fourth set, then extended that lead to 11-2.  With the Saints in front 19-8, a Sandra Lozanova (Pernik, Bulgaria) kill started a 6-2 Manhattan run that brought the Jaspers within six, 21-15.  Manhattan continued to chip away at the deficit, but Siena closed out the set, 25-19, to secure the 3-1 match win and clinch a place in the MAAC Tournament.

Lozanova had 17 kills and 11 digs to lead the Jaspers.  Janjusevic also recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs.  Zoe Lindsey (McHenry, IL) finished with 42 assists, 14 digs and four blocks, while Olyvia Chaltas (Temecula, CA) contributed 10 kills.  Ivana Kostic (Grocka, Serbia) registered six blocks and hit .312 in the match.  Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, HI) collected 18 digs, and Alyssa Rehrer (Lorton, VA) added 11 digs to go along with three service aces.  As a team, Manhattan hit .201 (53-21-159) in the match.

For Siena, Briana Flagg led the way with 21 kills.  She added 12 digs to complete a double-double.  Haley Howell notched a double-double of her own with 56 assists and 11 digs.  Sonja Vasovic tallied 14 kills on .324 hitting to go along with three aces.  Shantraie Rodriguez, meanwhile, hit .474 with 10 kills.  Kalehua Katagiri contributed 27 digs and Camila Davila recorded 11 digs, as the Saints outdug the Jaspers 74-69.  Siena hit .271 (65-20-166) as a team.