PURCHASE, N.Y. – Poised for another exciting season, the Manhattanville College women's volleyball team has been voted No. 1 in the Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Valiants enter their first season under head coach Tyler Blank this year as Manhattanville looks to claim its second conference championship of the last three seasons. The Valiants went 18-7 in 2021 en route to the Skyline Conference Finals, where they were edged out by Merchant Marine. The reigning Skyline champions were voted second in the preseason poll.

Manhattanville returns all four of its all-conference selections from last season. A year removed from being selected the Skyline's Co-Rookie of the Year, Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) looks to pick up where she left off entering her sophomore season. Ballagas was a First Team All-Conference selection after posting 397 digs, 92 assists and 43 service aces as a rookie, immediately entering the program record book with the tenth-highest single season dig total in program history. Ballagas led the entire conference with 4.95 digs per set in 2021 and was a six-time Skyline Libero of the Week.

Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) comes off a 677 assist season in 2021 and enters the new campaign second all-time in career assists with a total of 1,611. Another First Team selection for the Valiants in 2021, Vital enters her senior season after posting at least 16 assists in all 23 matches she participated in last year.

The Valiants also bring back both of the team's Second Team selections from last year in Alejandra Figueroa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Rosa-Bell) and Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools). Figueroa led Manhattanville with 214 kills and was one of just three players to play in all 25 matches last season. Teammate Sofia Morales (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) also took to the court in all 25 contests a year ago. Figueroa added 182 digs and 37 aces to her stat line in 2021.

Ruiz was a three-time Skyline Rookie of the Week selection last year after leading the team with 3.67 kills per set. The Hawaii native had earned ECAC DIII Metro Rookie of the Month honors for September after an incredible first month of collegiate action, and figures to be another vital piece in Manhattanville's attack in 2022.

The full results of the Skyline Conference poll can be found below. The Valiants open up the season on Sept. 1 at home against Eastern Connecticut at 6 p.m.

2022 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Manhattanville
2. Merchant Marine
3. Farmingdale State
4. Mount Saint Vincent
5. Mount Saint Mary
6. Sarah Lawrence
7. St. Joseph's-Long Island
8. Maritime
9. St. Joseph's-Brooklyn
10. Old Westbury
11. Purchase
12. Yeshiva

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