William Paterson University Athletics

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson volleyball team (12-7, 3-1 NJAC) fell to No. 12 Ithaca (14-3, 4-0 Liberty), 3-0, before bouncing back to earn a 3-1 victory versus Manhattanville (4-7, 1-0 Skyline) Oct. 10 at the Sports and Recreation Center.
 
MATCH ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A kill by freshman Presley Weber (McKinney, Texas/Emerson) pushed the WP lead to four (20-16) late in the first set. However, the Bombers went on a 9-3 run to close out the set and earn the 25-23 victory.
• The Pioneers trailed by eight (20-12) in the second set before a 6-1 run trimmed the deficit to three (21-18). Ithaca outscored WP, 4-1, the rest of the way to secure the 25-19 win.
• The Bombers used a 7-2 run to build a 23-15 advantage in the third set. WP made a late effort, using a 5-1 run to pull within four (24-20), but Ithaca held on for the 25-20 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Senior Cecilia Miller (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) logged a team-best 10 kills to pair with seven digs.
• Junior Makayda Aldrich (Robbinsdale, Minn./Brooklyn Center) collected eight kills and two blocks.
• Senior Taylor Grady (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley) and freshman Sara Rogers (Dacula, Ga./Mill Creek) had 16 and 14 assists, respectively.
• Junior Bella Demers (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) had a team-high 21 digs while adding five assists.

 
MATCH TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• WP owned a one-point advantage (17-16) in the opening set before using an 8-2 run to claim the 25-18 win.
• The Pioneers jumped out to a 13-5 lead in the second set and maintained their advantage the rest of the way en route to earning the 25-17 victory.
• The two sides were even at 16-16 in the third set until the Valiants went on a 7-1 run to go ahead by six (23-17). Manhattanville held on for the 25-20 win.
• WP led by one (9-8) early in the fourth set before a kill by freshman Presley Weber (McKinney, Texas/Emerson) sparked a 15-3 run to extend the Pioneers' advantage to 13 (24-11). Despite back-to-back points by Manhattanville, a kill by sophomore Tinashe Magura (Olympia, Wash./Olympia) sealed the 25-13 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Miller finished with 13 kills, 14 digs and three aces.
• Aldrich tallied 10 kills and a pair of blocks.
• Weber chipped in with eight kills and four blocks.
• Demers recorded 25 digs and seven assists.
• Senior Sofia Zablackis (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) logged a match-best six blocks.
• Rogers dished out 24 assists while adding nine digs and a pair of aces.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson returns to conference action Tuesday, Oct. 13, with a 7:00 p.m. match at Montclair State.

 
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• http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia