Manchester, N.H. - Overcoming a 2-1 deficit, the Adelphi University volleyball program took a 3-2 decision from Saint Anselm College Saturday afternoon, with the hopes of earning a spot in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference championship field.
The Panthers (14-10, 7-6 NE10) are currently tied for eighth at the conclusion of the regular season. There are still matches yet to be played this weekend, but the field will feature Regular Season Champion Bentley University, who posted a 12-1 mark in league play.
For the second consecutive game
Sara Mandreja and
Cara McKenzie led on offense, accounting for 13 and 12 kills respectively, as the former added nine digs and the latter chipped in six block assists.
Brenna Valsted notched just her second double-double of the season with 25 assists and 11 digs as
Katarina Warburton nearly
Adelphi fell behind early after the first set, in which the hosting Hawks (19-10, 9-4 NE10) took a 25-14 win but quickly responded with a 25-18 victory to even the matchup at one-all. The Brown and Gold used their best team hitting percentage of the afternoon at .270, courtesy of 14 kills to Saint Anselm's eight.
Once again the home team held the Panthers to a sub-15 score in the third set, but it took extra points in the fourth for Adelphi to force a fifth deciding set. In the fourth, the visitors rattled off a 7-2 run and closed out the frame with four unanswered points, two of which were Warburton aces, to secure the 26-24 victory.
Saint Anselm jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the final set, but it was the Panthers who forced the switch of sides with a three-point stretch highlighted with kills from
Sofia Pinzon,
Katie Barry and Mandreja. A few Hawk attack errors coupled with a Barry service ace gave the visiting team match point, but the hosts made it interesting earning the next four points to make it 14-13.
A perfect pass from Warburton to Valsted set up McKenzie perfectly for the match point slam, to send the Panthers back to Garden City on a high note.
Stay tuned for updates regarding postseason play by visiting northeast10.org or following the team on instagram and twitter.
