NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Manchester University volleyball team refused to let its early two-sets-to-none lead slip away as the Spartans prevailed over The University of Olivet in a thrilling five-set, non-conference match on Wednesday, September 6.

Manchester jumped out to a comfortable two-set lead after topping the Comets in sets one and two by scores of 25-14 and 25-23.

The University of Olivet managed to disrupt the Spartans in sets three and four, topping Manchester by set scores of 25-23 and 25-23.

The Black and Gold, playing its second straight five-set match, broke down the Comets and took set five by a final score of 15-12.

As a team, MU hit .234 during Wednesday's contest with 12 service aces. Joy Maze (Greenwood, Ind., Greenwood Community)lead the Black and Gold with a career-high 21 kills and a .360 hitting percentage. Maze also tallied two solor blocks, four block assists, and 14 digs. First-year Lily Lichtenbarger (South Bend, Ind., New Prairie) also added six block assists. 

Emma Tone (Fort Wayne, Ind., Bishop Dwenger) posted a team-high 26 assists against Olivet. Manchester's Libero Tiffany Watterson (Elkhart, Ind., Elkhart) had a team-high 18 digs. Avery Ball (Decatur, Ind., Belmont) tallied 17 digs. 

With Wednesday night's win, Manchester improved to 4-1 on the season while Olivet fell to 4-1. Up net, Manchester will play both Huntington University and Principia College at Huntington University on Saturday, September 9. The Spartans will face the Foresters at 10:00 a.m. before clashing with the Panthers at 1:00 p.m.