LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Manchester University volleyball team fell at Transylvania University in straight sets in the Opening Round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Pioneers, the no. 3 seed in this year's tournament, topped the no. 6 seeded Spartans by set scores of 25-20, 25-20, and 25-12.

Manchester was led by junior Halle Planck (Gas City, Ind./Mississinewa), who finished the match with a team-high 12 kills on the strength of a .286 swinging percentage. Planck added 2 block assists. Sophomore Joy Maze (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood Community) added 7 kills. Playing in her final match for Manchester, senior Samantha Campbell (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) chipped in 5 kills.

Manchester came into the HCAC Tournament as the conference leader in total blocks on the season; the Spartans had another strong performance at the net, finishing the match with 15 total blocks. Both Maze and Erika Kramer (Greensburg, Ind./North Decatur) had 4 block assists.

Sophomore setter Jordan Holland (Osceola, Ind./Mishawaka) paced Manchester with 26 assists.

Transylvania's high-powered offense proved difficult to slow as the Pioneers hit .311 on Wednesday night – including .364 in the third set.

Leading the way for Transylvania was HCAC Newcomer of the Year, Cate Scheper, who finished Wednesday's game with 17 kills after swinging a blistering .438.

The Pioneers (21-12) will advance to the HCAC Semifinals on Saturday afternoon where they will take on no. 2 seed Mount St. Joseph University. The HCAC Semifinals and Championship will be held at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind.

Manchester concludes its season with an overall record of 11-16.