Box Score NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – A strong offensive attack across the front line propelled Manchester University past Anderson University Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Senior outside hitter Sarah Pruden (Noblesville, Ind.) hammered 16 kills at the visiting Ravens defense as did junior outside hitter Courtney Chowning. Meanwhile, in between, freshman middle hitter Hannah Tevis (Royal Center, Ind.) drilled 11 kills as part of a 55-kill, .197 attack percentage effort for the host Spartans (7-11 overall, 2-3 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference).
MU, playing in front of a big and loud crowd inside of its Stauffer-Wolfe Arena, kept its fans on their feet throughout the evening. The Black and Gold scored six of the final 10 points in the first set for a 25-19 decision and then held off a furious Ravens' rally in the second stanza when senior middle hitter Morgan Pavelka (Noblesville, Ind.) sent a kill to the floor on AU's side of the net followed by an attack error for the visitors for a 26-24 final. Anderson did rally for a 25-19 third set win, but the Spartans answered, coming back from an 18-15 deficit to clinch the match with a 27-25 victory.
"We saw some flashes of excellence tonight," Coach Bryndon Paulsen said. "There was a setback in the third set, but the team came together and responded. We knew we just had to get in there and get it done.
"There's been a change to the mentality," he added when asked about the team's quick start. "We're a lot more relaxed. Our returners have done a great job of calming things down for the younger players."
Pruden registered a single-season personal match high with her 16 kills which marked the fifth time this season she's hit double digits. The evening also saw her record her fourth .200-or-high attack percentage over the course of the last seven matches.
"I've learned to wait on the ball and step into it more when the set goes up … not going at it too early," she said of her recent strong numbers. "When I do that, I'm able to get at it higher and hit over blocks.
"Overall tonight was huge for motivation, as we need to keep moving forward off (a win like this)," she added. "It was great to do this with the crowd as big and as vocal as it was, too. I've never seen (the crowds) like they've been this year … it's been great."
MU steps out of conference play Saturday, Oct. 10, with a trip to Kenyon College of Ohio. They take on Mount Vernon Nazarene College of Ohio at 2 p.m. and the host Ladies at 4 p.m.
NOTES: Chowning's 16-kill night was the third in her last four appearances and 10th time this season that she's registered double figures … Other top numbers went to Tevis with three blocks, two of them solo, to go with her 11 kills and .269 attack percentage; Pavelka with three blocks and four ace serves; freshman setter Dakota Stanichuk (Troy, Mich.) with 48 assists, three service aces and 10 digs; and Chowning who tallied 18 digs for a double-double in kills and digs.
