MADISON, N.J. – The Manhattanville College women's volleyball team had not taken a match against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham since 2016, but the Valiants dominated their former Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom foe on the road Wednesday night, Sept. 11, picking up the straight-set win thanks to a pair of outstanding performances from a senior and a freshman.
Manhattanville (3-4) had dropped three straight following a 2-1 start to the 2019 season, but bounced back in a big way with its 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-17) victory over FDU-Florham (2-3). The Valiants began the match with a hot start and jumped out to an 11-point, 16-5 lead in the first set en route to the 10-point set victory.
The second set was a much closer one as the two squads went back and forth throughout. The Valiants have had a few matches where they have gone up 1-0 following the first set, but were unable to capitalize on that winning momentum. That was certainly not the case tonight as Manhattanville hung on and took the second set 25-22 before finishing off the Devils 25-17 in the third and final set to complete their victorious performance.
The stars of the night for Manhattanville were senior
Austen Brauer (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) and freshman
Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro). The former finished with a match-high-tying 12 kills on 21 swings for a very efficient .476 hitting percentage – she added a pair of digs as well. Vital totaled a match-best 34 assists – the most of her brief collegiate career – and a match-high-tying 14 digs for her third straight double-double and fourth of the season. The rookie also led all players with three service aces and added a kill and an assisted block.
Highlights:
- Freshman Felicity Hoffert (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) contributed with nine kills and a dig.
- Sophomore Alejandra Figueroa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Rosa-Bell) chipped in with seven kills, two aces and 10 digs. She has now notched double-digit digs in four consecutive matches.
- Rookie Geena Torres (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) ended the night with 14 digs and an assist.
- As a team, Manhattanville hit the ball very efficiently and their team swinging percentage of .230 outmatched the Devils' .085.
The Valiants return home to Kennedy Gymnasium in Purchase, N.Y., tomorrow night, Thursday, Sept. 12, as they host the College of Saint Elizabeth in a 7:00 p.m. match. In 10 meetings all-time against the Eagles, Manhattanville is undefeated.
