Seton Hall University
St. John's
Manthorpe, Volleyball Win at St. John's, 3-1
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)
With the victory, Seton Hall improves to 21-6 overall and 9-3 in BIG EAST play. The Pirates' nine conference victories set a new program record.
Manthorpe finished the match with a team-high 17 kills to go with 18 digs for her team-leading 17th double-double of the season. Shelbey Manthorpe (Merion Station, Pa.) had a team-high 44 assists to go with seven kills and six digs.
Sophomore Tessa Fournier (Redondo Beach, Calif.) led the Pirates' defense with a team-best 23 digs.
Seton Hall and St. John's are no strangers to close matches. The teams have played five sets in four of their last six meetings. The Pirates out-lasted the Red Storm earlier this season in five sets in Walsh Gym.
St. John's took an early 8-6 lead, but the Pirates responded with a 5-1 run and a Shelbey Manthorpe kill gave The Hall an 11-9 advantage. An ace by Amanda Hansen (Pewaukee, Wis.) extended the Pirates' lead to 13-10, which prompted a Red Storm timeout. With the score tied at 18, Seton Hall scored three straight points to take a 21-18 lead. A kill by Ashani Rubin (Philadephia, Pa.) put The Hall in set point at 24-19, and despite a late run by the Red Storm, the Pirates held on for a 25-23 set one victory. The Hall overcame an offensive flurry from Karin Palgutova, one of the top players in the BIG EAST. The St. John's outside hitter had nine kills in set one alone.
Set two was a significantly close affair, which featured eight ties and four lead changes. Neither team was able to take a lead greater than two points until blocks by Rubin and Molly Grammer (Center Valley, Pa.) put The Hall in front, 21-18. The lead grew to as many as five points late as the Pirates took a two-set match lead with a 25-21 set two victory. Stacey Manthorpe had a big second set, recording eight kills in the second stanza. Both teams put up gaudy offensive numbers in the set. As a team, Seton Hall recorded a .421 attack percentage, while St. John's registered a .341.
Riding its set two momentum, Seton Hall scored five of the first six points in set three. St. John's however, responded with a 9-1 run to take a 10-6 lead, which prompted a Seton Hall timeout. Trailing 12-8, the Pirates scored eight unanswered points and blocks by Hansen and Shelbey Manthorpe gave The Hall a 16-12 advantage. The lead however, was short-lived as St. John's answered with six straight points to re-claim an 18-16 lead. St. John's extended their lead to 24-20. The Pirates staved off three set points, but ultimately fell, 25-23, in set three.
For the second straight set, Seton Hall came out of the break strong, jumping out to an early 9-2 lead in set four. Trailing 15-7, St. John's scored four straight to cut the Pirate lead in half. Palgutova's 17th kill of the match cut the Seton Hall lead to one, 17-16, and prompted a Seton Hall timeout. Out of the break, the Pirates scored four straight to take a 21-16 advantage. The Red Storm cut the lead to two late, but The Hall held on for a 25-22 set four win to take the match in four sets.
Seton Hall now has a five-game lead on St. John's in the BIG EAST standings with six matches remaining. The Red Storm was predicted to place fifth in the conference, while Seton Hall was picked sixth. Only the top four qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament in Milwaukee.
Seton Hall will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 1 when it travels to Providence. Match time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
