CCSU Volleyball Falls To Manhattan, 3-0

Senior captain Jamie Baumert led the Central Connecticut State University volleyball team with 12 kills, but the Blue Devils fell to 1-3 on the season after a 3-0 defeat to Manhattan in first day action at the Fordham Rose Hill Classic on Friday. Junior captain Amanda Bayer finished with 22 assists for CCSU, while juniors Kaitlin Petrella and Maite Mendizabal led the Blue Devil defense with 11 and nine digs, respectively. Central will continue competition in the tournament on Saturday when they take on Seton Hall (11:30 a.m.) and the host Rams (7:00 p.m.).

The Jaspers started with a bang, scoring the first four points on their way to a 10-3 lead to start the first set. The Blue Devils cut the lead to four, 10-6, after three straight points including kills by Baumert and freshman Emily Cochran. CCSU got as close as two, when they recorded five points in a row to make the score 21-19. Bayer was crucial in the run, assisting on three of the points. Manhattan ended up winning the opening set by a score of 25-21.

The second set was a much tighter affair, as the two teams were tied 12 times before either team got to 17 points. Manhattan broke the 16-16 tie with a kill by Rita Welsh and went on to take a 2-0 lead with a 25-20 victory in set two. Sophomore Sara DeLacey led CCSU in the set with four kills.

After breaking a 1-1 tie with a block by Diane Strutner and Casey Tidwell, Manhattan never gave up the lead and went on to win the final set of the match by a score of 25-23. CCSU got within one point when sophomore Danielle Gasser assited on a kill by Mendizabal. Baumert led the way in the final set with five kills.

The Jaspers were led Welsh with 13 kills and Laura Belotti with 30 assists. Strutner and Julie Bies added 12 digs in the victory.

CCSU falls to 1-3 on the year, while Manhattan improves to 3-4 in 2009. Both teams will compete in the rest of the Fordham Rose Hill Classic on Saturday.