NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. — Manchester (12-8, 7-2 HCAC) defeated Earlham (13-15, 8-1 HCAC) 3-2 on Saturday at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena, winning 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10. Manchester hit .450 with 10 kills and one error in the fifth set and finished with 60 kills to Earlham's 56.
Manchester repeatedly worked back from deficits, beginning with a push in the opening set that cut a 20-13 Earlham lead to 22-20. Those responses continued in the middle of the match, as Manchester moved from a 17-16 deficit to a 21-18 lead in the second set, then flipped a 19-17 deficit into a 22-20 lead in the third. Manchester later converted set point at 25-23 in that third set. In the fourth, Manchester also moved in front after trailing 3-1 early and later narrowed a 23-18 deficit to 24-22.
Manchester finished with 60 kills to Earlham's 56 and hit .226 while holding Earlham to a .130 hitting percentage. The defense also produced 72 digs and 12 total blocks, compared with 66 digs and four total blocks for Earlham.
Alicia Simmons had 21 kills and 17 digs, while
Kyana Martinez added 20 kills on a .462 hitting percentage.
Morgan Howard finished with 49 assists as Manchester generated 58 assists as a team.
Manchester's most sustained first-set response came after Earlham moved ahead 20-13, with Manchester cutting the margin to 22-20 behind two
Lily Lichtenbarger kills, a Lichtenbarger/Howard block and a Simmons kill. Earlier, Simmons opened the set with kills on Manchester's first two points, both set by Howard, and added another to tie the score at 10-10 as the teams traded points through the opening stretch. Earlham answered with five straight points from there and later pushed the lead back to seven before Manchester worked back into the set. The comeback push stopped at 22-20, and Earlham scored the final three points to take the set 25-20.
Manchester moved ahead late in the second set, turning a 17-16 deficit into a 21-18 lead behind a Lichtenbarger kill, a Simmons kill and Earlham attack errors, then closed out a 25-20 win. Earlier, Manchester opened with consecutive block points involving Martinez and Lichtenbarger before Earlham answered and later built a 12-8 advantage. Manchester worked back into the set with an
Izzy Renz kill from Howard, an
Alena Naddaf ace and a Lichtenbarger block to tie it at 15-15. After the late swing put Manchester in front, Simmons and Martinez added kills to bring the home side to set point, and Renz finished the set with a kill from Simmons.
Manchester overturned a late 20-18 deficit in the third set with four straight points, getting a Martinez kill, an Earlham attack error, a Renz kill from Howard and a Howard block on another attack error to move in front 22-20. Earlier, Manchester opened with kills from Lichtenbarger and Simmons and later answered a 9-7 deficit as
Tiffany Watterson served an ace and set up Martinez for a kill to give Manchester a 10-9 lead. Earlham pushed back to leads of 15-12 and 19-17, but Manchester stayed within reach with kills from Lichtenbarger, Simmons and Martinez before its late surge. After Earlham tied the set at 22-22 and again at 23-23, a service error put Manchester at set point, and
Sierra Knight's ace closed a 25-23 set win.
Manchester's late push brought the fourth set back within two points, but Earlham held on for a 25-22 set win. Earlier, Manchester answered a 3-1 deficit by moving in front 6-4, with Martinez, Renz, Lichtenbarger and Howard contributing kills during that stretch. Earlham later broke a 9-9 tie with four straight points, and Manchester continued to respond with kills from Renz, Lichtenbarger, Simmons and Martinez while Naddaf added a service ace. After Earlham moved ahead 23-18 and later reached set point at 24-19, Manchester stayed alive on a Lichtenbarger kill, Simmons kill and an Earlham attack error before Caylee Brandes ended the set for Earlham.
Manchester closed the fifth set by winning four of the final five points, with Martinez putting down kills for Manchester's 12th, 13th and 15th points in a 15-10 win. Earlier, Simmons answered Earlham's opening point with a kill from Howard, and Simmons added a block on the next Manchester point to put the home side ahead 2-1. Martinez helped Manchester keep answering through the middle of the set, recording kills for leads of 5-4, 6-4 and 11-8 while Howard assisted on several of the attacks. After Earlham stayed within 11-9, Manchester finished the set behind Martinez's late offense and an Earlham attack error to take the deciding set.
Simmons recorded 21 kills and 17 digs while finishing with 22 points. Martinez scored 23.5 points on 20 kills and a .462 hitting percentage, adding four total blocks. Howard posted 49 assists and 10 digs, along with three total blocks. Lichtenbarger added 10 kills, six total blocks and 15 points.
Manchester moves to 12-8 overall and 7-2 in HCAC play.
Manchester will host an opening round match on Wednesday, November 11 at 7:30 pm. Opponent TBD.
