North Manchester, Ind. - Manchester hosted its first tri-match of the season, playing two matches against St. Mary's and North Central.
Match One:
The Manchester volleyball team turned in one of its most complete performances of the season on Saturday, sweeping visiting St. Mary's (IN) in three straight sets (25–18, 25–23, 25–22) inside Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. The win moved the Spartans to 7–7 on the year while halting the momentum of a St. Mary's squad that entered with a 12–0 record.
From the opening serve, Manchester established control with aggressive serving and steady play at the net. The Spartans racked up 14 service aces on the day, including six in both the first and third sets, which consistently put St. Mary's on its heels. Avery Ball and Lily Lichtenbarger provided the bulk of the offense, combining for 17 kills and 24.5 total points, while Adelyn Figley added six kills, five aces, and eight digs to fuel a balanced attack.
Defensively, Manchester was equally sharp. Lichtenbarger anchored the block with five, and the back row, led by Figley, Ball, and Mariah Forbes, limited St. Mary's to just 27 kills and a .115 hitting percentage. Setters Morgan Howard and Forbes combined for 28 assists, keeping the Spartans' offense in rhythm during tight stretches, especially in the second and third sets, which featured seven ties apiece. By the end of the afternoon, Manchester had tallied 35 kills and 32 digs, while showcasing composure in closing out each frame.
Match Two:
The Manchester University volleyball team earned a thrilling five-set victory over North Central (IL) on Saturday night at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena, pulling out a 3–2 win to move above .500 on the season.
The Spartans came out strong with a convincing first-set win, but the Cardinals answered by taking the next two frames, including a dominant third set. Facing elimination, Manchester regrouped and turned the momentum back in their favor with a composed fourth-set performance. In the decisive fifth, the Spartans rode the energy of the home crowd, closing out the match with a 15–9 clincher.
It was a true team effort for Manchester. Morgan Howard filled the stat sheet with double-digit kills and assists, while Lily Lichtenbarger and Avery Ball provided steady offense at the net. Tiffany Watterson anchored the back row with key passing and defense, and the Spartans' blocking presence—led by contributions from multiple hitters—helped turn the tide in crucial moments.
Overall, Manchester finished with 40 kills, 11 service aces, and 15 blocks, showing balance and resilience in one of their most hard-fought matches of the year. The victory highlighted the Spartans' ability to respond under pressure and close strong, a promising sign as they prepare to enter conference play.
