Kalamazoo, MI - Manchester earned a hard-fought 3–1 victory on the road at Kalamazoo, taking the match by scores of 25–20, 25–18, 16–25, and 25–21 on Sept. 9 at Anderson Athletic Center.

The Spartans established control early by winning the first two sets with efficient offense and strong first contacts before weathering Kalamazoo's surge in the third. In the decisive fourth set, Manchester showed composure down the stretch, breaking a 20–20 tie with a 5–1 run fueled by clutch kills from Adelyn Figley and Lily Lichtenbarger, along with a timely ace from Mariah Forbes.

Balanced play was the key for Manchester, as the team hit .282 overall while out-killing the Hornets 57–44. Figley led the way with 16 kills and 18 digs, while Lichtenbarger added 12 kills on a stellar .611 hitting percentage and contributed three blocks. Avery Ball chipped in 10 kills and three block assists, giving the Spartans another reliable option at the net. The setting tandem of Morgan Howard and Forbes combined for 41 assists and added two aces, keeping the offense steady throughout the night. On the defensive end, Tiffany Watterson anchored the back row with 18 digs and sparked a critical run in the second set.

Despite a strong effort from Kalamazoo's Savannah Chapie, who hit .560 with 16 kills, Manchester's depth and balance proved decisive. With five players recording at least four kills, the Spartans showcased a sustainable formula built on consistent sideout play, low errors, and the ability to execute in late-set situations.