Queens, NY - Manhattan volleyball will open its 2018 season at St. John's on August 24 at 11:00 am. The match is the first of three the Jaspers will play in Queens as part of the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic.
Highlights:
- This game marks the start of Head Coach Lora Sarich's second season at Manhattan, and the first for new Assistant Coach Matt Cochenour.
- After losing six letterwinners, the Jaspers return 11.
- Top returners include Sandra Lozanova (Pernik, Bulgaria / Fresno State), who earned a team-high 2.37 kills per set, as well as 2.29 digs per set in 2017, and Alyssa Rehrer (Lorton, VA / South County), who finished last season with 4.86 digs per set, good for second place in the MAAC.
- Manhattan also has five new additions, including three at the setter position: Shruti Mangipudi (San Ramon, CA / Dougherty Valley), Erin Prevo (San Diego, CA / Our Lady of Peace), and Abby Wilde (Parkesburg, PA / Octorora). The other freshman are hitters Vivian Donovan (Newport Beach, CA / Newport Harbor) and Julia Menocal (Bronx, NY / Preston).
- The Johnnies have won the Jack Kaiser Classic the last two seasons. Last year, the Red Storm 3-1, defeating Holy Cross, Sacramento State, and New Hampshire before falling to UConn.
- Erica Di Maulo, a two-time All-BIG EAST First Team honoree is one of four returning starters for the Red Storm, playing at the setter spot. Junior hitter Hanna Wagner also returns after posting the third-highest hitting percentage in a single season in St. John's history (.356) in 2017.
- On Saturday, Manhattan will play two matches. First up is Central Connecticut State at 11:00 am, followed by Eastern Michigan at 1:00 pm.