College Volleyball
Manhattan College 3, Rider University 2
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
RIVERDALE, N.Y.--Trailing two sets to none, the Rider University volleyball team rallied to tie the match before losing in five sets against the Manhattan Jaspers in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon.
"It was a fantastic match," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "Trailing by two sets, we basically just changed our mind-set for every single point. We went after every ball."
The Jaspers won 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 12-25, 15-9.
For the Broncs, junior Elyse Grassmuck (San Antonio, Texas/La Vernia) had 43 assists, 12 digs and four blocks with senior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) adding 23 digs.
"Elyse was able to be a floor leader as the setter," said Ahlquist. "She led the offense and was able to communicate well. She really put the ball where it needed to go."
Trailing 16-11 in the opening set, Manhattan (5-6, 1-0 MAAC) rallied with a 6-1 run to tie the score at 17. Tied at 19, the Jaspers won the final six points to take a one-set lead.
Trailing 4-1 in the second set, Rider scored six of the next eight points, three kills by junior Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) to take a 7-6 lead. With Rider leading 15-12, the Jaspers responded with a 7-1 run to take a 19-16 lead. Trailing 23-19, the Broncs got to within one at 24-23 before a Jasper kill ended the set. Thompson had a 'double-double' with 21 kills and 12 digs in the match.
"Katelyn did a fantastic job coming off the bench," Ahlquist added. "She passed well and swung smartly. She is stepping up her leadership roll."
Trailing 14-11 in the third set, the Broncs went on a 5-0 run, with kills by freshman Briana Wallace (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), senior Brittany Hayes (Mitchellville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) and Grassmuck and a service ace by Thompson to take a two-point lead. Tied at 17, Rider used a 3-0 run on kills by Wallace and Thompson to go up 20-17. Leading 22-18, the Broncs withstood a late Jasper rally to win by two. Wallace finished with 12 kills with Hayes adding five kills and three blocks.
The fourth set was all Rider as the Broncs broke a 4-4 tie, scoring seven of the next nine points to take an 11-6 lead. Leading 18-12, Rider ended the set on a 7-0 run, two kills by junior Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) to force the fifth and deciding set. Love finished with 12 kills.
"The fourth set score was a little deceiving," said Ahlquist. "The match overall was very close."
The final set saw the Jaspers break a 4-4 tie by winning four of the next five points, eventually opening up a 12-9 lead. Manhattan clinched the win by scoring the final three points.
Overall, there were 32 ties and 13 lead changes in the two hour match.
"We had a huge improvement from being swept in three matches last weekend at the Lehigh/Lafayette Invite," Ahlquist said. "It was good to have a five-set battle to start conference play because that experience is only going to help us. Trailing by two sets, we didn't give up and we fought back and that is good to see."
Senior Tara Hansen (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) also had double-digit digs for the Broncs with 11.
The match was the conference season opener for both teams.
"Both teams were a little tentative in the first two sets," Ahlquist said. "In the first conference match, that is understandable."
The Jaspers have defeated the Broncs in 17 of the 21 matches all-time and Rider has not won against Manhattan since the 2004 season.
Rider travels to Loudonville, New York for a MAAC match at Siena on Sunday.
"We are excited to head up to Siena," Ahlquist said. "We were ready for conference play to start today. It was a loss but we saw so many good things. These improvements are what we need to see for us to start wining these matches."
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