The Seton Hall Pirates volleyball team won the Seton Hall University Invitational this weekend hosted in Walsh Gymnasium, beating both the Stony Brook Sea wolves, 3-2, (25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-11) and the Morgan State Bears 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-19) and increasing their season record to 11-1.
The Pirates played a close five game match against the Sea wolves Friday night winning in the fifth match, and shut out the Bears Saturday afternoon winning three straight matches to claim the invitational crown.
The Pirates are currently on an eight-game winning streak, which is the best streak since 1996.
Sophomore Stacy Manthorpe was named Most Valuable Player of the invitational as she recorded 12 kills and 15 digs in the game against Stony Brook, and 11 kills with nine digs in the game against Morgan State.
Sophomore Shelby Manthorpe also helped lead the Pirates to victory in both matches with nine kills and 37 assists in the game against Stony Brook, and achieving her seventh double-double of the season with 27 assists and 11 digs in the game against Morgan State.
Freshman Molly Grammer also made her presence felt in both matches, recording 10 kills and six blocks against Stony Brook, and eight kills in the game against Morgan State.
Two more Pirates stood out in the game against Stony Brook, as junior libero Alyssa Warren played a strong defensive game by picking up 19 digs, and senior Morgan DeVries recorded seven kills.
Sophomore Shelby Manthorpe commented on the team's success they have had so far this season.
"I think it's really great," Shelbey Manthorpe said. "We've worked really hard these past couple seasons, lifting, and working in practice, so I think that its great all of our hard work is paying off."
Manthorpe said the team's confidence has been a major factor of their improvement.
"I think just being confident in ourselves and in each one of our players is a big thing," Manthorpe said. "And I think being this confident has really been helping us out."
The Pirates next two games will be against Big East rivals Pittsburgh and the University of South Florida at home.
Manthorpe said the preparation for conference play will be no different.
"I don't think we will prepare differently," Manthorpe said. "We will just work on our side and if we work on the things that we need to work on I think that we will be able to do very well."
The Pirates take on Pittsburgh on Saturday followed by USF on Sunday in Walsh Gymnasium.
Courtney Hnasko can be reached at courtney.hnasko@student.shu.edu
