BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Manhattanville College women's volleyball team dropped its season-opening match to No. 20 Babson College Friday afternoon, Aug. 30, on the road. Several rookies stood out for the Valiants, but unfortunately the tough ranked Beavers team came away the victors.

Manhattanville (0-1) got off to a tough start in the first set against Babson (1-0) and was unable to recover moving forward in the match. The Beavers finished with the three-set 25-11, 25-17, 25-17 win.

There were several bright spots for the Valiants, though, as a handful of players showed well in their first-career collegiate contest. One of those players was rookie right-side Felicity Hoffert (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East), who finished with a match-best nine kills on 18 swings for a .500 hitting percentage – she also added four digs. First-year setter Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) also had a good performance and led all players with a match-high 15 assists to go along with six digs and an assisted block. Lastly, freshman libero Geena Torres (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) notched a match-best-tying eight digs, adding an assist and a service ace.

Highlights:

• Senior Austen Brauer (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) finished with five kills and four digs.
• Sophomore Emma Dronzek (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) notched a pair of solo blocks, three digs and three kills.
• Overall, the Valiants out-blocked and out-dug Babson 3-2 and 40-38, respectively.

The Crimson and White will return to the court tomorrow morning, Saturday, Aug. 31, for a 10:00 a.m. game against the University of Maine at Presque Isle as part of a doubleheader on the second day of the Babson Volleyball Tournament. Following their morning match with the Owls, the Valiants will take on Suffolk University in a scheduled 12:00 p.m. contest.