PURCHASE, N.Y. – Back in action for another four-match week, the Manhattanville College women's volleyball team picked up a conference sweep of Purchase College on Tuesday night. The 3-0 win (25-7, 25-12, 25-12) is Manhattanville's 14^th straight victory over the Panthers and improves the Valiants' record to 13-4 overall and 5-1 in Skyline Conference play.

The Valiants received double-digit kills totals from the duo of Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy) and Meghan Wildes (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) to lead the attacking effort on the night. The rookie Hernandez continues to shine in her first year on the court as she killed a team-best 15 balls in the contest. It was the fourth time this year that Hernandez reached double-figures in the offensive category. Wildes, meanwhile, had 10 putaways, tying her career-best mark from a season ago.

Defensively, 11 different Valiants recorded a dig for a team total of 39. The effort was led by the usual suspect of Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School), as the libero dug 12 balls. Alejandra Figueroa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Rosa-Bell) and Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) ended the night with five digs each, while Caylee Premoli (White Plains, N.Y./School of the Holy Child) added four. Vital, meanwhile, accounted for 31 of the team's 32 assists on the night.

Manhattanville had great success serving the ball, as six different players recorded an ace for a total of 12 on the night. Ballagas, Hernandez and Premoli each ended with three aces.

The six kills and -.185 attacking percentage by Purchase were both season-lows by a Manhattanville opponent on the year. The Valiants capitalized on the mistakes en route to the sweep.

After the Panthers got the opening point following a Vital service error, the Valiants picked up their senior by immediately winning the serve back as part of a 5-0 run. A six-point string followed shortly after, putting the home team up 11-2. A mini-three point run by the Panthers momentarily halted the Valiants' roll, but Manhattanville would close out the frame on a 14-2 run to take the opener, 25-7.

Purchase took the first two points of the second set, but four straight points by the Valiants would put the home squad ahead the rest of the way. Manhattanville would be unable to separate from the Panthers until midway through the set when the team scored five straight to go ahead 14-6. The lead never dipped back below six, as Manhattanville scored five straight points with Katelyn Kamei (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools - The Priory) in control of the serve to take the second set by a final of 25-12.

Set three would end by an identical score, although it took the Valiants some time to get there. Purchase quickly erased Manhattanville's 2-0 opening lead and would remain in front with the score at 8-6. Manhattanville won regain the serve of a kill by Wildes to begin an 11-0 run that tilted momentum firmly on the side of the home team. Premoli recorded two aces as part of the run that put Manhattanville ahead 17-8.The Valiants ended the night on an 8-4 run to complete the sweep with a 25-12 winner.

Up Next
It will be a celebratory night in Kennedy Gymnasium when the Valiants next return to action on Thursday night. Prior to the 7:30 match against Mount Saint Vincent, Manhattanville will honor the 2019 Skyline Conference Champion women's volleyball team with a banner raising ceremony.

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