North Manchester, Ind. - Manchester volleyball turned in a dominant performance at home, sweeping Trine 3–0 (25–14, 25–22, 25–20) at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.
The Spartans improved to 5–4 on the year, controlling the match with strong offensive balance and a sturdy defensive effort. Manchester wasted no time seizing momentum, jumping out to an early lead behind kills from
Maddi Smith and
Adelyn Figley, plus an ace from
Tiffany Watterson. The Spartans' attack efficiency shined with 13 kills and a .318 hitting percentage, highlighted by
Avery Ball's steady swings and Figley's early firepower. Manchester's five service aces kept Trine off balance, helping secure a comfortable 25–14 win.
The second frame was more tightly contested, with Trine pushing the Spartans to the wire. Manchester built an early cushion with contributions from
Ball, Smith, and Figley, but Trine battled back late. Strong setting from
Morgan Howard and
Mariah Forbes steadied the offense, while
Lily Lichtenbarger and
Petra Schwartz made key defensive plays at the net. A late kill by Figley and Ball closed it out, 25–22, keeping Manchester in control.
The final set featured six ties and two lead changes, but Manchester's composure showed down the stretch.
Figley and Lichtenbarger delivered clutch kills, while
Howard and
Forbes combined for 31 assists on the night. Defensively, the Spartans dug out 44 balls, led by
Ball (12 digs) and
Watterson (10 digs). Manchester's balance again proved decisive, pulling away 25–20 to finish the sweep.
Manchester showcased depth and balance, with multiple players contributing in attack, defense, and serving. Figley led the way offensively, Ball was rock-solid all-around, and the setting duo of Howard and Forbes kept the offense clicking. The Spartans' ability to win the serve-and-pass game and convert at the net secured a convincing sweep and momentum heading deeper into the season. Manchester travels to Elmhurst, Ill. this Saturday for two matches, Aurora and Lawrence, 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM starts.