PURCHASE, N.Y. – After a 3-0 sweep of No. 6 Mount Saint Mary College in the first round, the No. 3 Manhattanville College women's volleyball team will head to Farmingdale, N.Y. on Thursday evening to take on No. 2 Farmingdale State College for the Skyline Conference Championship Semifinals at 7 p.m. 


   
How We Got Here  
On Tuesday evening, Manhattanville took on No. 6 Mount Saint Mary College, and the Valiants' 3-0 sweep was attained through plenty of contributors on the court. Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools) led the team with ten digs, nine kills for the attacking effort, and a career-high eight service aces. The rest of the offensive attack came from Sofia Morales (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) with seven putaways, Alejandra Figueroa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Rosa-Bell) and Hannah Pena (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) recording six, Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) and Felicity Hoffert (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East) tallying four apiece, and Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy) notching two. Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) led with 14 digs. Vital totaled 27 of the team's 34 assists on the night, and finished third on the night with eight digs. 



After two days of preparation, the Valiants are ready to take on the No. 2 Farmingdale State Rams on the road once again this season. The Rams claimed the second seed after finishing 10-1 in conference play and 15-7 overall. They received a first-round bye and will now have home court advantage for semifinals against Manhattanville.  This will set up a rematch between the two teams after a 3-0 nonconference win for Manhattanville on Sep. 24 and a 3-0 conference win for Farmingdale State on Oct. 5. 

The Rams have been led by Cathleen Farrell with 212 kills this season and ranking sixth overall in the conference. Kalena Ricketts and Mikayla Profeta come in at third and fourth, respectively in the conference, with .262 and .259 hitting percentages. Madisyn Pozo has tallied 266 digs, ranking seventh overall. Farmingdale State showcases depth, just as much as Manhattanville.
 
Last Time Out 
After defeating the Rams in three sets on a neutral court in Stevens earlier this season, the Valiants were on the road at Farmingdale State on Oct. 5, falling in three sets to take their first conference loss of the season. Manhattanville was led offensively by Figueroa who tallied 12 kills, while Hoffert added ten, and Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy) had nine. Vital recorded 27 assists to set up the attack, while Ballagas tallied a season-high eight assists. Four players reached double digits defensively in digs, Ballagas led with 14 while Vital tallied 13, Figueroa added 11, and Hernandez recorded ten, a strong defensive effort all around.
 
Farmingdale State was determined to defend their home court after having multiple runs throughout the match. Mikayla Profeta scored a match-high 18.5 points on a .444 hitting percentage and five service aces. Cathleen Farrell notched a double-double with 12 kills and 16 digs, while Danielle Marullo and Lexi Cavalieri guided the offense with a .164 attack percentage.
 
Team Leaders 
 
Manhattanville 

• Kills Per Set: Figueroa (3.22), Ruiz (3.13), Hernandez (2.46)
• Assists Per Set: Vital (9.74), Ballagas (1.09), Premoli (0.87)
• Digs Per Set: Ballagas (4.58), Vital (3.32), Figueroa (2.62)
• Service Aces: Vital (51), Figueroa (43), Premoli (39)
• Blocks: Morales (33), Hoffert (26), Wildes (22)

 
Farmingdale State 

• Kills Per Set: Farrell (2.86), Ricketts (2.57), Flamio (2.03)
• Assists Per Set: Cavalieri (4.98), Miller (3.88), Marullo (3.74)
• Digs Per Set: Pozo (3.59), Farrell (2.35), Flamio (2.11)
• Service Aces: Profeta (41), Farrell (40), Flamio (38) 
• Blocks: Profeta (33), Ricketts (32), Stanley (19) 

 
History 

• All-Time Record vs Farmingdale State: 11-4
• Streak: Manhattanville L1
• Series Record at Farmingdale State: 2-1
• Last Six Meetings 
  • 10/5/22: Manhattanville 0, Farmingdale State 3
  • 9/24/22: Manhattanville 3, Farmingdale State 0
  • 11/4/21: Farmingdale State 0, Manhattanville 3
  • 10/7/21: Farmingdale State 1, Manhattanville 3
  • 11/7/19: Farmingdale State 2, Manhattanville 3
  • 10/17/19: Farmingdale State 2, Manhattanville 3