By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
March 31, 2020
JENKINTOWN, PA—March is Women's History Month. As part of this month, this article looks at the history of Manor College women's athletics since the Blue Jays joined the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for the 2008-2009 school year.
When Manor College joined the NJCAA, the Blue Jays had two Women's sports—Soccer and Basketball.
Basketball at Manor is its oldest sports (1959-1960) and one of its most successful. Entering the NJCAA, they qualified for the EPCC Postseason 12 straight years (1997-2008), winning five Postseason Tournament and winning two consecutive PCAA titles (1998-1999) and finishing runners-up three straight times (2005-2007). The Blue Jays picked up in the NJCAA where they left off in the EPCC, qualifying for the Postseason Tournament nine times (2009-2011, 2013-2018) in its first ten seasons. They also reached the Postseason Tournament Semifinals or better five times (2010-2011, 2013-2014, and 2015). The Women's Basketball team became the first men's or women's program to reach a Region XIX Postseason Tournament Championship and qualify for Districts (2014). Manor has a 208-124 (0.657) overall record since joining the NJCAA and 144-94 (0.567) in Region XIX Division II play. Individually, eight different Blue Jays have been named NJCAA All-Region XIX Division II, including six to the first team. Seven Manor student-athletes were named Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) All-Academic. Altogether, there are 28 Blue Jays who went on to play in the NCAA since joining the NJCAA for the 2008-2009 season.
Volleyball which began at Manor in 1982, is the College's second-oldest sport (27 years) was reinstated for the 2010 season. Academically, seven student-athletes were named to the EPAC All-Academic Team.
Soccer made its Manor debut in 1994 and completed its 22nd season in 2019. They won the EPCC Postseason Tournament three times (1999-2000, 2004) and won the 2004 PCAA Championship. The Blue Jays were EPCC Postseason Tournament Runners-Up twice (2001-2002) and twice PCAA Runners-Up (1999 and 2000). They qualified for the Region XIX Division III Postseason Tournament for the first time in 2011. A dozen student-athlete were named to the EPAC All-Academic Team.
Cross Country debuted in 2018, Outdoor Track and Field in 2019, and Indoor Track and Field in 2020.
The Blue Jays also briefly had Field Hockey (1962) and Tennis (1980-1981).
The Manor Women's Athletics programs has also had a number of individual successes:
Tyshay Britten played basketball (2012-2014) and volleyball (2012-2013). She holds Blue Jay single-season records in games started (26), rebounds (354 in 2013-2014) and per game (14.4 in 2012-2013), and blocked shots and per game (85 and 3.3 in 2013-2014). Since Manor entered the NJCAA for the 2008-2009 season, Britten also owns career records in games started (47), overall field goals made (285) and attempts (659), rebounds (686) and per game (14.0), and blocked shots (152) and per game (3.1). She was voted All-Region XIX Division II in both of her seasons (2012-2013 First Team Center and 2013-2014 Second Team Center) at Manor. Britten was named Manor Women's Basketball Most Valuable Player and received an Academic Achievement at the school's 2013 Annual Athletics Awards. She received the Blue Jays' Women's Volleyball Outstanding Performance Award at Manor's Annual Athletics Awards in 2014). Britten became the first Manor Women's Basketball (since 2008-2009) to play basketball at the NCAA Division I level. She continued her basketball career at North Carolina Central University and University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
Shakira Gray played basketball between the 2010-2012 seasons. Gray holds Manor career records by forward in overall rebounds (395) and per game (10.1) and points (558) and per game (14.3). She was voted All-Region XIX Division II and in both of her seasons (2010-2011 Second Team Forward and 2011-2012 First Team Forward). She also played Middle Hitter in volleyball in 2010. Gray continued her basketball career at NCAA Division II Virginia State University.
Sharmane Hall played basketball between the 2009-2011 seasons. She owns the school single-season (59.7 in 2009-2010) and career records in overall field goal percentage (57.4). Hall also has Blue Jay career records in free throws made (140) and attempts (240), points per game by a center (15.1), and overall points scored (678) (Since 2008-2009). She was the first Blue Jay to be voted All-Region XIX Division and in both of her seasons (2009-2010 Second Team Center and 2010-2011 First Team Center).
Middle Back Safiya Hernandez became the first Manor Volleyball player voted All-Region XIX Division III when she was named Third Team. Hernandez was named Blue Jays' Women's Volleyball MVP at the College's Annual Athletics Awards in 2014. She played volleyball from 2013-2014. Hernandez also competed in Basketball (2013-2015) and holds the school career record for matches played (50). She played basketball at NCAA Division III Salem (West Virginia) International University.
Emazhane Livingston played basketball as a shooting guard/small forward for the Blue Jays in the 2018-2019. Livingston became the first Manor student-athlete in any sport when she was named NJCAA Player of the Week (Division II Women's Basketball for the week ending February 3, 2019). She was named to the EPAC All-Academic Teams in basketball twice and cross country once. Livingston finished in the NJCAA Division II top-50 in the following: minutes per game (38.4), field goals made per game (6.5), defensive rebounds (181) and per game (9.5), overall rebounds per game (13.1), steals per game (3.1), blocks (40) and per game (2.1), and points per game (17.4). She also received Manor Women's Basketball Most Improved Award at the College's Annual Athletics Awards in 2019.
Michelle Sakalad owns Blue Jay single-season (12 in 2012) and career goals (19) records since Manor became a NJCAA member for the 2008-2009 school year. She is also Manor's career points leader (50). Sakalad became the first Manor Women's Soccer player to be voted All-Region XIX Division III in both of her seasons (2011 Third Team Midfielder and 2012 Second Team Forward). She was voted Manor's Women's Soccer MVP at the school's Annual Athletics Awards in 2013 and 2014. Sakalad also received an Academic Achievement Award at the 2013 Manor Annual Athletics Awards.
Kiara Stovall competed in Basketball (2017-2019) and Cross Country (2018). Stovall became the Manor women's athlete in any sport to lead a NJCAA Division II individual statistical category with 40.0 minutes per game in 2018-2019. She owns the Manor school single-season records in overall field goal attempts (432 in 2018-2019), free throws made and attempted (110 and 164 in 2018-2019) and career points by a guard (528) and overall scoring average (16.0) (since 2008-2009). Stovall received the Brian Barry and Tim Stokes Memorial Awards at the 2018 Manor's Annual Athletics Awards. She also won the Blue Jays' Women's Basketball Coaches Award at the school's 2019 Annual Athletics Awards. Academically, Stovall was named three times EPAC All-Academic in Women's Basketball and once for Women's Cross Country. She was the first Blue Jay to compete in Women's Cross Country. Stovall currently plays basketball at NCAA Division III Neumann University.