West Haven, CT - The Adelphi University volleyball team used a team total of 62 kills to dispatch Northeast-10 Conference rival the University of New Haven, 3-1 (29-27, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21) on Tuesday, October 27. With the win the Panthers run their win streak to 13 games, while running their overall record to 18-4 and remaining unbeaten in conference at 9-0. The Chargers slip to 13-11 overall and 5-4 in the Northeast-10 with the loss.
Three members of the Brown and Gold posted double figure kill totals, led by
Mandy Stanislovaitis with 18.
McKenna Clawson and
Shelby Stoner joined Stainslovaitis with 14 and 11 kills respectively, while
Megan Manierski had a game-high 47 assists.
Sierra Crook led the defense with a game best 27 digs, while teammates
Ajsha Mekulovic and Clawson joined her in double digits with 11 and 10 digs. The Panthers also totaled 12 team blocks, led by Stoner with six total efforts at the net.
Adelphi took a late lead in the first set on a Manierski kill, 23-20. However, the hosts scored the next three points to knot the action at 23. From there it would go back and forth, remaining tied at 27, thanks to a Charger service error. The Brown and Gold put the game away with back-to-back kills from Stanislovaitis and Stoner, 29-27.
In the second game the Panthers crept away from the Chargers, taking a six point lead on a New Haven ball handling error, 16-10. Adelphi continued to lead, 19-11, but the hosts used a 12-4 run to tie the set at 23 all on a Brown and Gold attack error. This time two new members of the Adelphi squad came through with timely kills, as
Madison Canestrari and Manierski picked up back-to-back kills to close out the second set, 25-23.
The third set was another back and forth affair throughout, but a Stanislovaitis kill knotted the action at 23 all. Unfortunately for Adelphi it was New Haven that came up with two consecutive timely plays, getting a kill from Kristen Lee and a service ace from Brianna Mirmina to cut the Brown and Gold lead in half, courtesy of a 25-23 win.
The fourth set was following the same script as the first three, and was tied at 13 when a quick Adelphi three point spurt, put the Panthers out in front 16-13. However, this time the Brown and Gold built a 21-16 lead that proved to be insurmountable, picking up a 25-21 win that was fittingly closed out on a Stanislovaitis kill.
Adelphi returns to the court on Saturday, October 31 when they play host to Merrimack College at 1:00 pm in the Center for Recreation and Sports.
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the Fall of 2009 and in the past six seasons has collected 13 regular season conference titles, 19 tournament championships, 27 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 President's Cup twice (2013 and 2014), while winning five NCAA Division II National Championships.For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.
