Sandusky, OH - Manchester Volleyball traveled to Sandusky, Ohio to compete in the 2025 Great Lakes Crossover. The Spartans faced Heidelberg and SUNY Brockport in a two-match day. 

Game One vs Heidelberg

Manchester fell in a hard-fought four-set battle against Heidelberg, dropping the match 3–1 (23–25, 24–26, 25–19, 23–25). 

Manchester's offense was led by Avery Ball, who tallied 14 kills and added two service aces while collecting 10 digs. Adelyn Figley also chipped in 12 kills and seven digs, while Kyana Martinez provided 10 kills of her own. Setter Mariah Forbes anchored the defense with a 23 digs while also dishing out 18 assists, and Tiffany Watterson contributed across the board with 25 digs, eight assists, and three service aces. Junior middle Lily Lichtenbarger was efficient at the net, recording seven kills on a .316 hitting percentage along with two blocks, while Morgan Howard led the team 21 assists. 

The Spartans battled tightly with Heidelberg in the first two sets, narrowly dropping them by just two points each. Manchester responded in set three, riding strong serving and timely kills to secure a 25–19 win. In the decisive fourth set, the Spartans again kept pace but couldn't quite close the gap, falling 25–23.

Manchester finished the match with 53 kills, 76 digs, and six service aces. 

Game Two vs SUNY Brockport 

Manchester battled SUNY Brockport in a five-set thriller but ultimately came up short, falling 3–2 (23–25, 24–26, 25–23, 25–18, 10–15).

After dropping the first two tight sets, Manchester showed rallied in the third and fourth frames. Strong offensive contributions came from Avery Ball, who led the Spartans with 15 kills while hitting .375, and Lily Lichtenbarger, who added 7 kills hitting .636, along with 3 blocks. Setter Morgan Howard distributed 36 assists, helping Manchester's offense find its rhythm as the match progressed.

Defensively, Tiffany Watterson anchored the back row with 21 digs, while Ball and Maddi Smith each added double-digit digs to keep rallies alive. Manchester also showed service pressure, recording 17 aces as a team, with key contributions from Mariah Forbes (4 aces) and Ball (3 aces).

The Spartans seized momentum in the third and fourth sets, forcing a decisive fifth. However, Brockport's steady attack swung the match back to the Golden Eagles, who closed the final set 15–10.

Manchester finished the match with 49 kills, 62 digs, and 17 service aces.

Spartan Volleyball faces Olivet Wednesday, September 3 home in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. 6:30 PM start.