WILKES-BARRE, PA. — The Manhattanville College women's volleyball team continued its hot start to the season Wednesday night, Sept. 12. The Valiants traveled to Wilkes University and opened 2018 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play with a thrilling five-set victory (25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 15-7) over the Colonels.

Manhattanville (6-1, 1-0 MAC Freedom) started the night fast against Wilkes (6-1, 0-1 MAC Freedom), jumping out to a 16-9 lead in the first of five sets. The Colonels were able to climb right back, though, and trim the Valiants' lead to just one at 21-20. Manhattanville took four of the next six points, including two kills from junior middle blocker Steph Muller (Port Jervis, N.Y./Port Jervis), to come out on top. The second set was a different story, as the Valiants raced out to a 19-8 lead and then 21-12 before taking the final four points — Muller once again added a pair of kills in that run — of the set to take the 2-0 match advantage.

The third and fourth sets were extremely competitive, as Wilkes took both 25-23 to knot the overall match up at two sets apiece. The decisive fifth set went back and forth and was knotted at 4-4 before Manhattanville, led by a kill and service ace from junior hitter Austen Brauer (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings), took the next three and the 7-4 lead to force a Wilkes timeout. It was to no avail for the Colonels, though, as the Valiants won eight of the final 11 points of the set for the 15-7 edge and the five-set victory. That run was also helped by two service aces from Muller and three kills from senior hitter Laura LiVolsi (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville).

Overall, LiVolsi was a key cog in the victory for Manhattanville. The senior captain finished with a career-best 22 kills and a season-best 18 digs, while Brauer contributed offensively with 12 kills as well. Rookie setter Sarah Camarena (Los Angeles, Calif./Sacred Heart (H.S.)) also put in her best match as a collegian, notching a team- and season-high 25 assists and a season-best 22 digs for her second double-double of the season. Sophomore libero Monica Lopez (Caguas, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame) was also strong Wednesday, notching a match-best-tying 25 digs and a career-high 11 assists for her first-career double-double. Rookie middle blocker Jasmine Hamel (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) also had a nice night, finishing with a match-best six total blocks.

Manhattanville returns to the court Friday night, Sept. 14, in Immaculata, Pa., for a 7:00 p.m. meeting with Immaculata University.