Seton Hall University
Binghamton
VB Holds Off Bingamton, 3-2
9/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Seton Hall volleyball team won its final match of the Maryland Invitational, 3-2 (25-16, 26-24, 28-30, 15-25, 15-6), over Binghamton. The Pirates (4-1) had a tough time closing out the Bearcats (1-6), but played a dominant fifth set to take the victory.
Junior Alyssa Warren (Joliet, Ill.) posted 31 digs to lead the Seton Hall defense. Freshmen Amanda Hansen (Pewaukee, Wis.) and Molly Grammer (Center Valley, Pa.) each recorded team-highs of 11 kills. Sophomore Stacey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) finished with 10 kills and 13 digs for a double-double.
After an even start for both teams, a 6-0 rally by SHU gave the Pirates enough distance to claim a 25-16 win in the first set. The Pirates played particularly strong defense in the opening stanza, recorded 22 kills, including seven from Warren.
Seton Hall seemed to be in firm control of the second set, scoring the first three points and maintaining a comfortable lead for much of the way. However, with the Pirates serving for the set at 24-18, the Bearcats scored six straight to knot things up and put the pressure squarely on The Hall.
Sophomore Simona Sekulova (Aukland, New Zealand) finally stopped the bleeding with a crucial kill and a ball handling error by the Binghamton setter gave the Pirates the 2-0 match lead.
The Bearcats took the momentum from their strong finish in the second into the third and jumped out to a 14-10 lead. Seton Hall hung around close enough before tying the game at 24-24 and had pushed Binghamton to the brink after an attack error.
The clubs continued to go back and forth until the Pirates third match-point when the Bearcats earned a crucial side-out and scored the next two points to extend the contest.
Seton Hall could not get anything going in the fourth set, and fell by a hefty margin.
Senior Kalie Marshall (North Royalton, Ohio) set the tone in the fifth set with a pair of aces to help the Pirates race out to a 4-0 lead. SHU dictated the pace the rest of the way and continued its strong start to the 2012 season.
The Pirates have a mid-week tilt at Hofstra on Tuesday, September 4. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
