Hackensack, N.J. (October 8, 2005)--Manhattan Volleyball continued its hot play of late by finishing off Wagner College in three games (30-18, 30-18, 30-24) on Saturday afternoon in the team's final match at the Valley National Bank Knights Classic in Hackensack, N.J.
Senior middle hitter
Maggie Pfeifer (Liberty, Mo./St. Pius X), who is already a three-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Week in 2005, is making a strong bid to earn weekly honors again, as she reached the .500 attack percentage plateau for the second consecutive match. The Missouri native pounded out 13 kills to go with a .522 hitting percentage to help the Lady Jaspers win their sixth match in their last seven tries. Pfeifer hit .500 with 16 kills earlier in the day, as Manhattan downed Rider University .
Pfeifer and the Lady J's carried over their momentum from the game five win over Rider to come out of the gate firing away in the first frame of the Wagner match. Manhattan (10-11, 0-0 MAAC) never trailed throughout the entire duration of game one. In games two and three, the Lady Jaspers never trailed by more than two points en route to a convincing sweep of the Seahawks, which was their second victory on the year against the foe from Staten Island.
Sophomore outside hitter
Ashley Watson (Mountain View, Calif./Los Altos), who dug 40 attacks in Manhattan first two matches of the weekend tournament, led the Lady J's defensively with 12 digs. As a whole, the Manhattan defense overwhelmed the Seahawks, who failed to have a player record double-digit kills. On the offensive side, Manhattan out hit Wagner (3-12 overall) by almost 200 percentage points.
With a 2-1 record and second place finish at the FDU Knights Classic, the Lady J's pull to within one victory of a .500 record at 10-11 overall. After an out-of-conference showdown at Bronx rival Fordham University on Tuesday October 11, Manhattan begins MAAC play with Canisius College and Niagara University visiting Draddy Gym next Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
