Boxscore

ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Eastern University, ranked fifth in this week's AVCA Division III Coaches Poll, made quick work of Manhattanville in a Freedom Conference women's volleyball matchup on Tuesday evening, posting an efficient 3-0 (25-5, 25-13, 25-8) victory over the Valiants at Eastern Gym.

Eastern took nothing for granted against the Valiants, playing a nearly flawless match that included 35 kills and just five errors on 72 tries and a tremendous .417 team hitting percentage on the evening. Manhattanville, meanwhile, recorded only eight kills and 19 errors in 68 attempts.

Kearby Benak led a balanced Eagle squad with 11 kills without an error, while Courtney Reinhold and Mary Poole each boasted five kills without a mistake. No Valiant was able to register more than two kills for the match, with juniors Maggie Black (Seattle, Wash.) and Damaris Morales (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) posting two apiece.

Eastern set the tone right away in the first set, putting down 13 kills without committing an error. Up by four at 8-4, the Eagles closed the set on a 17-1 run as the Valiants had no answers to the nationally ranked opponent. The second and third sets were no kinder for the visitors, as Eastern cruised to its 19th victory of the year.

Manhattanville (5-9, 0-4 Freedom) will get right back onto the court tomorrow, as the Valiants make the much shorter trip to Queens to take on York (N.Y.) College beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern (19-1, 4-0 Freedom) will take a week off before battling Misericordia University next Wednesday at 7 p.m.