The Seton Hall volleyball team traveled to Omaha, Neb. to take on the Creighton Bluejays this past Sunday, but lost 3-0 in the two team's first-ever meeting.
In the first set, the Pirates never led. Creighton scored three of the first four points and led 5-4 before going on a 6-1 run, making the score 11-5. Seton Hall came within three to make the score 16-13, but that was the closest they got. Creighton won the set by a final score of 25-18.
In set two, Seton Hall jumped out to an early 5-3 lead, only to surrender seven unanswered points. After that, the Bluejays never trailed; Creighton won the set 25-20.
In the third set, the Pirates once again started the match with a lead, this time by a score of 6-4. The Bluejays came back and evened the score at nine. From there, Creighton never looked back and won the set 25-18.
Head coach Allison Yaeger suggested that sustaining leads has been a problem for the Pirates this season.
"We've done a good job this season starting quickly," she said. "The key for us is sustaining our quick starts. We've had to deal with a number of injuries this season, and because of this, teams have been able to wear us down later in sets. We have a young team, and as is with anything else, maintaining a lead is a learning process."
Seton Hall's major standout was Shelbey Manthorpe. The setter recorded her team-leading 17th double-double of the season, totaling 21 assists and 10 digs. Manthorpe has been a key player for the Hall all year.
"It's no surprise that she's having another significant year as a junior," Yaeger said. "She's on her way to leading the nation in triple-doubles again and she'll likely be a first team All-BIG EAST performer."
Yaeger also spoke highly of sophomore outside hitter Molly Grammer, who led the Pirates with nine kills.
"Molly is really starting to get things going over the last couple weeks and she has been such an important part of our offense," Yaeger said.
Senior libero Alyssa Warren also performed well, leading the pirates with 16 digs.
Despite the 3-0 loss, Yaeger was able to find positives in the match.
"We knew it was going to be a difficult match as Creighton is one of the marquee teams in the nation and the preseason BIG EAST favorite," Yaeger said. "Obviously, I would've liked a different result, but the effort was there."
The Pirates return to the court on Friday, Nov. 8 when they travel to Milwaukee to face Marquette for the first time this season.
Gary Phillips can be reached at gary.phillips@student.shu.edu.
