PURCHASE, N.Y. – In thrilling fashion – with the final hit of the match – senior outside hitter Austen Brauer (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) was able clinch the victory for Manhattanville College women's volleyball and notch a program-record 35 kills on Thursday night, Oct. 17. The Valiants defeated Farmingdale State College in five sets (25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 19-25, 15-12) in the friendly confines of Kennedy Gymnasium to remain unbeaten in Skyline Conference play, as well as atop the standings. Not to be outdone, rookie setter Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) notched a program-best 53 assists against the Rams – getting the record-breaker on the final point of the match, as well.
 
Manhattanville (18-5, 7-0 Skyline) won a shaky first set over the Rams (12-12, 4-3 Skyline), thanks in large part to nine kills from Brauer. Farmingdale State was able to come back and snag the win in tight second set to even the match up at 1-1.
 
The third set started out very close for both teams, but the Valiants were able to go on a nice run with the score at 11-10 in their favor. Four Brauer kills, one from rookie middle Hannah Pena (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen), an ace from Vital and a few Ram errors put the Valiants on a 9-1 run and gave them a 20-11 lead. They split the next 10 points with Farmingdale and took the 25-16 win and the 2-1 lead.
 
Tied at 17-17 in the fourth set, the road team proceeded to go on an 8-2 run against Manhattanville thanks to a pair of Valiant errors, two Farmingdale aces and four kills to win 25-19 and force a fifth and decisive final set – the second in a span of two home matches for the Crimson and White.
 
The teams traded points until the Valiants were able to jump ahead by four at 12-8 thanks to kills from sophomore outside hitter Alejandra Figueroa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Rosa-Bell) and Brauer, as well as a Rams' error. However, four consecutive errors from the Valiants allowed Farmingdale State to tie it back up at 12-12. Needing a kill to regain momentum, Vital was able to set up Brauer for the strike – tying both program records at the time. Rookie defensive specialist Katelyn Kamei (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools - The Priory) followed with an ace, and thrillingly, Brauer was able to close out the match with the next point on her record-setting 35th kill of the night, coming off Vital's record-breaking 53rd assist.
 
Highlights:

• Figueroa had an outstanding night of her own, finishing with a season-best 21 kills on 66 swings. Shee added seven digs and two aces.
• Brauer not only set the record, but was extremely efficient. She took 58 swings with just five errors to notch a .517 hitting percentage. She added five digs as well.
• Vital finished with yet another double-double – 17 digs – to go with her record-setting assists total. She added a pair of aces and two kills as well.
• Freshman libero Geena Torres (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) was dominant on the backline all night long and finished with a match- and career-best 23 digs. She added six assists and three aces.
• Sophomore middle Emma Dronzek (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) ended the night with five kills and one error on 13 swings (.308) to go with two digs.
• Second-year defensive specialist Emily Gonzalez (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) continued her strong play of late, totaling 11 digs, three aces and a rare kill.
• Rookie defensive specialist Caylee Premoli (White Plains, N.Y./School of the Holy Child) started the match and notched nine digs and an assist.
• Kamei finished her night with three aces and two digs.

Manhattanville now hits the road for four straight matches, the first two in Skyline play, before returning home for the final regular-season Skyline match on Halloween. The Valiants begin with The Battle for Anderson Hill Road at Skyline foe Purchase College down the street on Monday night, Oct. 21, at 7:00 p.m., followed by a trip to Riverdale, N.Y., to face defending conference champion College of Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday night, Oct. 23, at 7:00 p.m.