Lawrenceville, N.J. (October 21, 2005)--On a night when the spotlight was supposed to shine on Rider senior Stefanie Lombardo as she reached the 1,000-dig plateau, Manhattan senior Maggie Pfeifer stole the show. Pfeifer pounded out a season-best 28 kills propelling Manhattan Volleyball to a five-game victory over Rider (25-30, 30-24, 30-22, 24-30, 15-13) in a MAAC match in Lawrenceville, N.J. The win improves Manhattan's conference record to 2-1, while Rider falls to 0-2.
Lombardo did manage to record a double-double for Rider with 15 kills and 24 digs, but Pfeifer and the Lady Jaspers upstaged the senior Bronc. Pfeifer hit a match-high .397, as the Lady Jaspers earned their second victory over Rider this season.
Fellow Manhattan senior Megan O'Dorisio answered Lombardo's double-double with one of her own, which is her eleventh in the last 14 matches. O'Dorisio became the first Lady J to dig up more than 30 attacks in a match this season, as she recorded 31 digs to go with 18 kills.
Senior Lori Bambauer also notched a first by dishing out over 50 assists for the first time this year with 51 on Friday night. Bambauer was also one of four Lady Jaspers with double-digit digs, as the senior setter recorded 14. Senior libero Ashley Davis dug up 22 attacks, while sophomore Ashley Watson chipped in 11 from the outside hitter spot.
After dropping the first game by five, Manhattan took the next two. Just like they did two weeks ago, Lombardo and the Broncs captured game four to force a fifth, and deciding, frame. The Lady Jaspers, however, would not let the crucial conference match slip away.
Manhattan is on the road again tomorrow evening, as they square off against conference foe Loyola College in Baltimore, Md.