RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Saint Peter's volleyball team (6-15, 1-9 MAAC) recorded its first conference win of the season Friday night at Draddy Gymnasium, taking down Manhattan (2-18, 0-10 MAAC) in five sets (25-20, 13-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-13).
The Peacocks and Jaspers went back and forth through five sets, but it was Saint Peter's that prevailed in the end. The Peacocks had three players with double-digit kills, including
Valeria Pagan Munoz,
Indira T. Benitez Dumeng and
Karolina T. Rodriguez Mendez. Pagan Munoz also had the match-winning kills in the fifth set.
While the Peacocks produced on the offensive end, they also had success on the receiving end with a total of 76 digs and 10 blocks.
Alonda Fargas and
Alicia Valladares each recorded 12 digs, and
Lagean Colon and Pagan Munoz each recorded 10.
After going down, 1-2, after the third set, Saint Peter's managed to pull off a crazy comeback in the fourth and fifth sets to take down its first MAAC opponent. The Peacocks narrowly won the fourth set by a score of 25-23 and the fifth set, 15-13.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Saint Peter's came out of the gate with a quick start as an early kill by Benitez Dumeng set the tone. Manhattan responded quickly with a kill, and the Jaspers rode that momentum to a 4-1 lead. Later in the set, the Peacocks recorded back-to-back kills from Rodriguez Mendez to turn it, 11-10, in their favor. A key run came when Saint Peter's went from 15-13 to 21-18, highlighted by a service ace by Fargas and an attack error by the Jaspers. The Peacocks went on to win set one, 25-20, after a kill by
Jaizahir Marrero George.
SET TWO: This set, Manhattan led from the start, forcing Saint Peter's into several errors for an early 11-2 advantage. The Peacocks put together a small 4-0 scoring run to make it 10-19, but it was too little too late as the Jaspers went on to take the second set, 25-13, with a kill.
SET THREE: This set was close from beginning to end. Late in the set, Benitez Dumeng had an attack error, giving Manhattan a 19-17 lead. The Peacocks then managed to come within one at 19-20 following a kill by Pagan Munoz and a block by
Addison Baglio. A kill by Baglio made it 21-22, but Manhattan scored on back-to-back plays to reach set point. The Jaspers took set three, 25-22.
SET FOUR: With their backs to the wall, Saint Peter's showed resilience in a crucial set four. While trailing, 5-6, The Peacocks went on a 5-1 run with kills by Pagan Munoz and Benitez Dumeng and three Manhattan errors. After the Jaspers came within one, 10-11, the Peacocks started to take control of the set. They scored five unanswered points to take a commanding 16-10 lead. Manhattan came back late in the set to make it a close contest at 20-22 and even tied the set at 23 all.
Elena Bilhartz came up clutch for Saint Peter's, recording a kill to make it set point. Bilhartz then finished it off with an ace to win the set, 25-23, for the Peacocks.
SET FIVE: In the decisive fifth set, both teams went back and forth trading points. The set began tight before Manhattan went a little ahead, 9-7, but Saint Peter's answered back with a kill by Pagan Munoz to make it 8-8 shortly after. Back-to-back service aces by Colon were deemed crucial as the Peacocks took a 13-9 lead over the Jaspers. Benitez Dumeng gave SPU set point with a kill before Pagan Munoz finished things off in Riverdale with her 13th kill.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks will look to pick up another win this weekend when they face the Iona Gaels on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. ET.
