PURCHASE, N.Y. – Back at home for the first time in 11 days, the Manhattanville College volleyball team earned their seventh straight win with a three-set sweep of Saint Joseph's College-Long Island. The 25-9, 25-16, 25-15 victory moves the Valiants to 14-4 on the season and 8-1 in the Skyline Conference.

After earning a pair of Skyline weekly honors on Tuesday, the duo of Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) and Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) were once again the table setters for the Crimson and White. The Skyline Player of the Week Vital led the Valiants with 21 assists while adding eight digs, six kills, and four aces. Meanwhile, Libero of the Week Ballagas did what she does best with a team-high 13 digs to go along with six assists and an ace.

The attacking game was fairly dispersed for Manhattanville, with six different Vals recording a kill. Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, HI/St Andrews Schools) led the team on the night with nine putaways. Hannah Pena (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) had seven kills to go with her three blocks, while Emma Dronzek (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) matched Vital's total of six.

The Valiants took immediate control in the opening set, roaring out to a 6-1 lead. Manhattanville would go on a seven-point run towards the tailend of the frame to go ahead 20-4, easing in to a 25-9 win in set one. The Golden Eagles refused to roll over, as Saint Joseph's responded to a pair of 4-0 Valiant runs in the second set with streaks of their own to bring the score even at 8-8. SJC would take claim to a one-point lead three points later, but a 9-1 Manhattanville run swung momentum back in the home team's favor as the Valiants took set two, 25-16.

After the two teams battled for separation in the third set, the Valiants would get the ball back on a Golden Eagles service error. Sporting a 12-9 lead, Manhattanville would score six unanswered points and never looked back. Militza De Hostos Gonalez would end the match with an ace, winning the third set by a 25-15 final.

Up Next
The Valiants will be in Boston on Saturday for a trimatch against Bowdoin and Emerson. Manhattanville's matches are scheduled for 1:30 and 4:00 p.m.

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