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1
Academy of Art ARTU 5-13,4-6 PacWest
3
Winner Menlo Menlo 6-11,3-7 PacWest
Academy of Art ARTU
5-13,4-6 PacWest
1
Final
3
Menlo Menlo
6-11,3-7 PacWest
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Academy of Art ARTU 14 18 25 22 (1)
Menlo Menlo 25 25 22 25 (3)

Next Match:

Dominican University of California

10/24/2024 | 6:00 PM

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Full Schedule
Oct. 24 (Thu) / 6:00 PM
 Dominican University of California
History

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Riley J. Siason

Menlo Women's Volleyball Demonstrates Dominance Against Academy of Art in Four Sets

Atherton, CA – Menlo Women's Volleyball was able to secure a hard-fought victory against Academy of Art during Oaktoberfest weekend! The Oaks took the match in four sets in a thrilling PacWest Conference matchup inside of Haynes-Prim Pavilion. The 1989 Menlo Women's Volleyball Team was inducted in Menlo Athletics Hall of Fame yesterday and was honored before the match.
 
Getting It Done Quick!
In the opening set of the match, Menlo was able to establish dominance early against Academy of Art. The Oaks were able to quickly pull ahead with their biggest lead of the set being 10 points, showcasing their attacking power and solid defense. Their serving proved to be a major factor against Academy of Art, delivering six aces! The Oaks defense also stood tall, accumulating four blocks in the set. Menlo was able to close out the set comfortably 25-14 and carried that momentum in the second set. The second set saw Menlo improve their offense and defense intensity. The Oaks hit an impressive .268 hitting percentage, fueled by 16 kills. The Oaks blocking also remained consistent as there were 3 blocks in the set. Academy of Art was able to make some adjustments, but Menlo's overall consistency proved to be too much, and the Oaks took the second set 25-18 give them a 2-0 lead. The third set saw Academy of Art with a complete reset of focus. It was their best performance of the match and Menlo faced more defensive pressure, and Academy of Art was able to capitalize on key moments, taking the third set 22-25. The fourth set was another battle as both teams pushed to close out the match on a high note. The set was tightly contested, with both teams trading leads and points throughout. Menlo was able to collect a total 15 kills in the set and hit a .278 hitting percentage. Academy of Art was able to find some momentum late in the match, but the Oaks refocused quickly and closed out the final moments with a score of 25-22 set win. The Oaks' strong teamwork, anchored by standout performances demonstrated their growth and determination on the court. Signaling that they are a team to watch as the season progresses.
 
The Duo of Manzon and Oller
Beatrice Manzon was the key performer for the Oaks, recording an outstanding 43 assists. Manzon's precise setting enabled Menlo's attackers to shine even more. Manzon was everywhere on the court, as she collected 5 total blocks, 9 digs, 5 service aces while also collecting 3 kills on the night, an all-around impressive performance! Manzon couldn't have set the ball up to her team without the help from libero Faith Oller. Oller collected 24 digs on the night and most of them were crucial to keeping Menlo in the match, and also to set Manzon up for offensive attacks. Hannah Torres again was able to do what she does best, and that is getting points on the board! Torress hit a strong .286 hitting percentage with 18 kills! Her ability to score in vital moments was instrumental to Menlo's success in the match. Keely Grant was the wall of the night, as she obtained 10 blocks on the night as well as 10 kills. The 10 blocks ties the single game record in Menlo history, Janet Moala was also able to obtain this feat in their previous matchup a few days ago! These performances along with contributions from the entire team, were key to Menlo's impressive win.
 
1989 Women's Volleyball NCAA Final Four Team
  • Head Coach Malcolm Taylor**
  • Assistant Coach Russ Nitta
  • Delna Lancaster*
  • Kim (Lee) Moore**
  • Ann (Demijohn) Murray
  • Gretta (Curlett) Kosanovich
  • Heather (Foss) Hill
  • Jen (Colby) Humphreys
  • Keala (Kauwe) lli
  • Kelli (Johnston) Newnan
  • Samantha (Lagerloef) Steinwinder
  • Sue (MacLeod) Dishion
*Inducted into the Menlo College Hall of Fame in 2000
**Inducted into the Menlo College Hall of Fame in 2007
 
From the start of their season, it was clear that the Menlo Women's Volleyball team of 1989 was on the cusp of something special. With Hall of Fame coach Malcolm Taylor at the helm, the Oaks would start the year winning the 1989 Pomona Invitational Tournament and the 1989 Mills College Tournament. Many of the athletes on the team were founding members of the program, as 1986 marked the start of Menlo Volleyball. The team finished the year with an impressive 27-7 record that would see them qualify for the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Oaks won the Western Region and earned the right to compete for a national title at the 1989 NCAA Division III Final Four in St. Louis, Missouri. With a duo of future Menlo College Hall of Famers in Delna Lancaster and Kim (Lee) Moore leading the way, the 1989 Final Four team remains one of the most impressive in the long history of Menlo Women's Volleyball. 
 
Kim (Lee) Moore spoke about the intense rivalry that the Oaks maintained with UC San Diego at the time and the difficulty of making such a deep run, saying: "One of our first tournaments was at Pomona-Pitzer when I was a freshman. We won the tournament by beating UC San Diego, and when we won, I saw Delna and Gretta crying and wondered why. It was such a deep rivalry filled with losses, so it was great to come out early in the season and win. I rarely appreciated what our '89 team did until my later years at Menlo. As a freshman going to the final four, you think it is so cool and 'let's do it again,' but it was never that easy." 
 
Meanwhile, fellow teammate and Menlo College Hall of Famer Delna Lancaster reflected on her late head coach Malcolm Taylor, speaking in reverence about the Hall of Fame: "Gretta and I were fortunate to play for him all four years at Menlo. He had a very unique style of coaching, something I did not expect at the college level.  He was a coach who stressed basic fundamentals, and looking back, that was all we needed. I give him credit, because we were so successful all those years." With members of this great team already residing in the annals of Menlo Athletics history, it is only fitting that the rest of the team takes their place among the Menlo greats as members of the Menlo College Hall of Fame!
 
 
Up Next…
After their hard-fought victory, the Oaks will prepare for another home match this time against Dominican University of California. First serve will be at 6:00PM inside of Haynes-Prim Pavilion! Be sure to wear your Halloween costume, as there will be a Halloween costume contest! Also, make sure to use menloathletics.com for livestream, live stats, and ticket links to follow along during the season!
 
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Players Mentioned

Keely Grant

#22 Keely Grant

MB
6' 1"
Sophomore
Beatrice Manzon

#11 Beatrice Manzon

S
6' 0"
Senior
Janet Moala

#13 Janet Moala

MB
5' 8"
Junior
Faith Oller

#4 Faith Oller

L
4' 11"
Sophomore
Hannah Torres

#18 Hannah Torres

Opp
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Keely Grant

#22 Keely Grant

6' 1"
Sophomore
MB
Beatrice Manzon

#11 Beatrice Manzon

6' 0"
Senior
S
Janet Moala

#13 Janet Moala

5' 8"
Junior
MB
Faith Oller

#4 Faith Oller

4' 11"
Sophomore
L
Hannah Torres

#18 Hannah Torres

6' 1"
Senior
Opp
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