Seton Hall University
Pittsburgh
Volleyball Cages Panthers, 3-1
9/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Sophomore Shelbey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) notched her fifth triple-double of the season as the Seton Hall women's volleyball team opened BIG EAST play with a 3-1 (25-15, 18-25, 25-19, 25-20) victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Manthorpe finished with 12 kills, 16 digs and a match-high 34 assists in the Pirates' ninth straight victory. It's Seton Hall's longest win streak since 1996.
The victory also improves the Pirates to a sparkling 12-1; their best start to a season since they began 13-1 in 1992.
Sophomore Stacey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) notched her eighth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 17 digs.
Freshman Molly Grammer (Center Valley, Pa.) was a third Pirate to reach double-figures in kills. The talented young outside hitter matched Stacey Manthorpe with a team-high 13.
Seton Hall (12-1, 1-0) got off to a great start in set one, taking an early lead and never relinquishing it. With the score tied at 13, the Pirates reeled off five straight points en route to a 12-2 run that would end the set in easy fashion for Seton Hall, 25-15.
Pittsburgh (9-6, 0-1) was equally as dominant however, in set two. Just as the Panthers never led in set one, the Pirates never led in set two. Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 5-1 lead and Seton Hall could never catch up. Stacey Manthorpe's attack error ended set two and gave the Panthers a 25-18 set victory to tie the match at one set apiece.
The Pirates again fell in an early hole, 3-1, but this time stormed back with five unanswered points to take a 6-3 lead. Pittsburgh would respond with seven of the next eight points to take a 10-7 lead. The teams played relatively evenly and Grammer's kill tied the score at 12. From there, Seton Hall went on a 5-1 run to take a 17-13 lead. The Pirates never looked back and coasted to a 25-19 set three victory.
Set four was the most-closely contested of the afternoon with seven tie scores and five lead changes. The Panthers jumped out to a 5-2 lead, but the Pirates rebounded and a kill by Shelbey Manthorpe tied the score at six. After a trading several points, Seton Hall maintained a slim 18-17 lead. From there, the Pirates scored three straight to give themselves some breathing room with a 21-17 lead. Stacey Manthorpe's kill, off an assist from her sister, ended the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.
The Pirates will return to action tomorrow, when they host USF at Walsh Gym. Match time is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
