NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Manchester University volleyball team refused to let its early two-sets-to-none lead slip away as the Black & Gold prevailed over Northwestern Ohio in five sets to open the Manchester Volleyball Classic.

Manchester jumped out to a comfortable two-set lead after topping the Racers in sets 1 and 2 by scores of 25-23 and 25-16.

The University of Northwestern Ohio managed to disrupt the Spartans in sets 3 and 4, besting Manchester by set tallies of 25-18 and 25-16.

Manchester, playing its second straight five-set match to being the new season, broke down the Racers in the final set. MU hit .417 in the final frame to NW Ohio's .056.

The Black & Gold hit .214 as team on Friday evening. Halle Planck (Gas City, Ind./Mississinewa) registered 13 kills. Samantha Campbell (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) tallied 10 kills, while picking up a pair of solo blocks and block assists.

Jordan Holland (Osceola, Ind./Mishawaka) posted a team-high 29 assists against the Racers while libero Rachael Ressler (Tipton, Ind./Tipton) posted a game-high 19 digs.

As a team, the Spartans had 10 service aces.

Manchester improved to 2-0 on the season. Northwester Ohio fell to 2-5. The Spartans will take on both Huntington and Spalding tomorrow afternoon in the second day of the Manchester Volleyball Classic. The Spartans and Foresters will clash at 12 pm. MU will host Spalding afterwards at 2 pm.

Northwestern Ohio will also play both Huntington and Spalding tomorrow afternoon as well.