BRONX, NY — The Saint Peter's Peacocks (6-17, 4-12 MAAC) claimed victory over the Manhattan Jaspers (1-26, 0-16 MAAC) with a 3-1 win in their last away game of the season. Maliyah Labrie led the Peacocks with her second double-double of the season, posting 16 kills and 10 digs to help secure the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Set 1
The Peacocks set the tone early in the first set, with Labrie opening the scoring with a powerful kill. Manhattan answered back, briefly gaining momentum with consecutive kills, but Saint Peter's capitalized on two Jasper errors to regain the advantage at 3-2. The Peacocks continued to pull ahead with a three-point run, highlighted by a block from Karolina Rodriguez and Elena Bilhartz, bringing the score to 7-4. Manhattan fought back with a pair of kills, but the Peacocks answered with a dominant six-point rally that included three Manhattan errors, a Labrie ace, a kill from Valeria Pagan Munoz, and a block by Olivia Gang and Pagan Munoz, extending their lead to 15-9. Saint Peter's held strong, going on two more multi-point runs and finishing the set 25-17 on a Jasper service error.
Set 2
Manhattan started strong in the second set, taking an early lead and maintaining a three-point cushion at 5-2. The Jaspers capitalized on several plays to extend their lead to 12-7, showing resilience after the first set. Saint Peter's responded with a determined five-point rally, beginning with a kill by Pagan Munoz and including two Labrie kills, an ace from Pagan Munoz, and a Jasper error, narrowing the score to 20-18. Manhattan then found themselves at set point, but Saint Peter's mounted an impressive comeback, fueled by three Jasper errors, a Labrie ace, and a solo block from Pagan Munoz to clinch the set 26-24. This thrilling finish put Saint Peter's up 2-0 in the match.
Set 3
The Peacocks faced a tough battle in the third set, with Manhattan coming out strong and seizing an early 7-1 lead on the back of Saint Peter's errors. The Peacocks responded with a three-point run that featured two aces from Penelope Rivera and a kill by Pagan Munoz, narrowing the score to 8-5. But Manhattan quickly regained control with three straight points, extending their lead to 11-5. Despite a late push by Saint Peter's, Manhattan maintained their lead and closed the set at 25-19, forcing a fourth set.
Set 4
In the fourth set, Saint Peter's regrouped and came out determined to close out the match. Rivera and Gang opened with a key block, followed by a Labrie kill and an error from Manhattan to take an early 4-2 lead. A four-point run fueled by kills from Labrie and Bilhartz, along with a Pagan Munoz ace, extended the Peacocks' lead to 9-6. Labrie continued to dominate, landing a trio of points including back-to-back aces, giving Saint Peter's a comfortable five-point cushion at 15-10. Saint Peter's kept the momentum going with a powerful kill from Pagan Munoz and a block by Rodriguez and Bilhartz, widening the gap to 21-13. A final pair of points from Rodriguez and Bilhartz brought the Peacocks to match point, and Labrie delivered the finishing blow, closing the set 25-16 and securing the 3-1 victory.
Inside the Numbers:
Labrie led the match with 16 kills, four aces, and 10 digs
Cleopatra Diakou dished out a match-high 24 assists, while Danielle Caligiuri added 18
Jessa Zulueta led the Peacocks with a career-high 11 digs, while Gang led with a career-high five total blocks
Pagan Munoz adds nine kills and nine digs
Up Next:
The Saint Peter's Peacocks come back home for their last two matches of the season. They will host Sacred Heart University at Run Baby Run Arena Saturday November 16. First serve is set for 1PM.
For continuing coverage of Saint Peter's University Athletics, visit SaintPetersPeacocks.com and follow the Peacocks on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
