NEWTON, Mass. – The Manhattanville College women's volleyball team picked up a pair of non-conference victories at a tri-match Saturday afternoon, Oct. 12, over Colby-Sawyer College and hosting Lasell University.
 
The Valiants (16-5) began with a quick 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-11) victory over the Chargers (12-13) to start their day. Outside hitters senior Austen Brauer (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) and Alejandra Figueroa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Rosa-Bell) led the way offensively en route to the sweep. Brauer, fresh off a career-best night in her last match, led all players with 14 kills on 29 swings with four errors (.345) to go with three digs and an assist, while Figueroa was extremely efficient and finished with 10 kills and 18 error-less swings (.556) to go with six digs and four aces.
 
Rookies setter Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) and libero Geena Torres (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) tied for the match-high with 12 digs apiece, while Vital added a match-best 30 assists to go with three aces and two kills. Torres chipped in with five assists and three aces. Sophomore middle Emma Dronzek (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) finished with four kills, three digs and an ace, while classmate defensive specialist Emily Gonzalez (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) ended the match with a pair of digs and aces.
 
The second match of the day for the Crimson and White, a 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-16) victory over the hosting Lasers (6-15), saw Brauer once again lead all players in kills, this time with 15 on 26 attempts with just two errors (.500) to go with two aces, two blocks, two assists and one dig. She was again joined by Figueroa, who finished with eight kills, seven digs and a season-best five aces.
 
Vital and Dronzek each notched four kills, while Vital tied for the match high in assists (22) and led all Valiants in digs (9), adding one ace as well. Dronzek also chipped in two blocks, a pair of digs and an assist. Freshman middle Hannah Pena contributed as well with three kills, one assist and one block. Torres and fellow freshman Caylee Premoli (White Plains, N.Y./School of the Holy Child) each finished with six digs – a season-high from Premoli. They each also had two assists, while Torres chipped in two aces as well.
 
Manhattanville returns to play this Tuesday night, Oct. 15, for a 7:00 p.m. Skyline Conference road match at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. The Valiants are currently 5-0 in conference play and sit atop the standings, while the Knights are 2-3. Mt. St. Mary leads the all-time series 16-14, but the Valiants have won the previous two meetings.