Seton Hall University
Xavier
Volleyball Falls in Defensive Battle to Xavier
10/26/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2013
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - In a defensive battle that saw the teams combine for 224 digs, the Seton Hall women's volleyball team suffered a close loss to Xavier, 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-27), in Walsh Gym on Saturday night.
Five Pirates reached double-figures in digs, including senior Alyssa Warren (Joliet, Ill.) who led all players with a season-high 32. Warren tallied her fourth career double-double adding 10 assists. Shelbey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) also had a double-double with 39 assists to go with a career-high 29 digs. The Pirate star also had eight kills and five blocks in another fine all-around effort.
Stacey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) was a third Pirate that recorded a double-double. She finished with 13 kills and a season-high 20 digs. Both Sara Connell (Dousman, Wis.) and Tessa Fournier (Redondo Beach, Calif.) had 15 digs apiece.
Seton Hall (11-12, 3-6) finished with a season-high 114 digs. It's the most since recorded 116 nearly a year ago (10/28/12) at Connecticut. Xavier finished with 110 digs.
Sophomore Molly Grammer (Center Valley, Pa.) recorded a season-high 14 kills to lead Seton Hall's offense.
Set one was a tight battle which featured 15 ties. Stacey Manthorpe's ace tied the set at 20 points apiece, but Xavier scored the next two and never relinquished at least a two-point lead. The Musketeers won set one, 25-22.
The Pirates bounced back in a big way in set two. After losing the first point, Seton Hall quickly grabbed control and never trailed again. Warren's ace handed the Pirates a 20-14 lead, their largest of the match. Xavier cut the lead to 23-20, but the Pirates closed the set with the final two points to tie the match at once set apiece.
Xavier (15-8, 6-2) jumped out to an early 9-3 lead in set three. Seton Hall methodically chipped away and Stacey Manthorpe's kill tied the set at 20. After two more ties, the Pirates found themselves in set point 24-23, but Xavier closed with three straight points to win set three, 26-24.
Seton Hall grabbed a 15-12 lead in set four on a kill by Molly Grammer, but Xavier battled back and tied the set at 17. The Pirates again jumped ahead, scoring the next two points to take a 19-17 lead, but the Musketeers went on a 5-1 run to retake the advantage, 22-20. For a second straight set, Seton Hall found itself in set point after Grammer's kill gave the Pirates a 25-24 lead. But Xavier again finished the set with three straight points to win set four, 27-25, and take the match, three-sets-to-one.
The Pirates will return to action on Wednesday, October 30 when they make the short trip to NJIT. Match time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
