Box Score KINGS POINT, N.Y. – Manhattanville came within two points in each of the last two frames, but the Valiants could not earn the key points down the stretch as the squad fell to Merchant Marine in four hard-fought sets, 3-1 (25-12, 20-25, 25-23, 26-24), on Wednesday evening in a non-conference women's volleyball matchup at O'Hara Hall.
 
The host Mariners had three players with double-figure kill totals on the evening, as the home team recorded 56 kills to only 23 for the visiting Valiants.  Cassandra Palma led all players with 19 kills, followed by Michelle Danhof with 15 put-downs and Caitlin McCabe with 10. Junior Susy Camaj (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Millbrook) was the top attacker for Manhattanville, putting down 12 balls.
 
Palma and Valiant sophomore Alyssa Casino (Rye Brook, N.Y./Maria Regina) tied for the match high in digs with 26 apiece, while freshman Patricia Alfonso (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Puertoriqueno de Ninas) matched Danhof for the day's top ace total with five service aces each as well.
 
The first set was by far the easiest of the match for either side, and even that was close at nine-all before Merchant Marine closed the frame on a 16-3 run. The Valiants came back in the second set, however, using some strong play of their own late in the set to even the match. With the score tied at 14, the visitors kept USMMA from recording back-to-back points the rest of the way, while stringing together some small runs to equalize the match.
 
The pivotal third set was a back-and-forth affair, featuring 10 ties and seven lead changes. The score was tied at 19, 20 and 22 late in the frame, but Merchant Marine got single kills by Kelly Hodges and Palma as well as a Palma block to eke out the win.
 
The fourth set was just as close with 11 tie scores, but again it was the home team that got the points when they mattered to close out the contest. Down a point at 24-23, Manhattanville staved off one match point on a Palma attack error, but she came back with back-to-back kills after the Valiants could not convert on attacking chances during both points.
 
Manhattanville (8-13) will conclude its six-match road trip this weekend, as the team travels to Elizabethtown on Saturday for the Middle Atlantic Conference Crossover event, taking on Albright and the host Blue Jays at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.