MAAC Tournament Notes
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan College volleyball team makes its first appearance in a four-team Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament in a decade on Saturday, when the fourth-seeded Jaspers (20-12) take on top-seeded Fairfield (17-12) at 1 p.m. in the semifinals from Siena's Alumni Recreation. The winner will face either second-seeded Marist (20-8) or No. 3 Iona (16-13) in Sunday's championship match.
Manhattan set a new school record for conference victories by going 13-5 in MAAC play this season and qualified for a four-team MAAC Tournament for the first time since winning the title in 2003. The Jaspers are led by senior outside hitter Ellie Wiekamp (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), a Second Team All-MAAC selection. She tallies 2.81 kills and 2.94 digs per set. Freshman libero Allie Yamashiro (Kapolei, Hawaii) earned a place on the MAAC All-Rookie Team after notching 4.50 digs per set. Sophomore setter Teodora Peric (Chicago, Ill.), meanwhile, hands out 8.42 assists per set.
After starting the season 1-3 in conference play, Fairfield won 13 of its final 14 MAAC matches to earn a share of the regular season title and the No. 1 seed. The Stags are the defending MAAC champions. First Team All-MAAC performer Marilyn Peizer, a junior outside hitter, ranks fourth in the MAAC with 3.06 kills per set, while senior middle blocker Hayley Moyer, a second team all-league choice, boasts a conference-best hitting percentage of .358. Senior Rachel Romansky was named MAAC Setter of the Year for the third consecutive season after distributing 9.36 assists per set. Senior libero Carsen Mata is Fairfield's leader in digs with an average of 4.09 per set.
Marist picked up a share of its first MAAC regular season title by winning its last seven matches. Junior middle blocker Mackenzie Stephens was named MAAC Player of the Year after tallying 3.29 kills per set and hitting .331. Junior Brooke Zywick averages 4.96 digs per set and took home MAAC Libero of the Year honors. Senior setter Audra Brady joined them on the All-MAAC First Team. Brady dishes out a league-leading 10.86 assists per set. In addition, Head Coach Tom Hanna was chosen as MAAC Coach of the Year.
Iona has won 10 of its last 11 matches, including four straight. Junior outside hitter Catrina Warren earned a First Team All-MAAC nod after tallying 3.70 kills and 3.43 digs per set. Senior outside hitter Alicja Pawelec adds 2.89 kills per set. She was named to the All-MAAC Second Team alongside sophomore setter Natalie Ziskin, who averages 10.74 assists per set. Senior libero Madisyn Spence paces the Gaels with 3.53 digs per set.
The Jaspers, who are looking for their third MAAC title, split the regular season series with each of the other three tournament qualifiers.