PURCHASE, N.Y. --  In a rematch of last season's Skyline Conference Championship finals, the Manhattanville College women's volleyball team was victorious against rival United States Merchant Marine Academy, 3-0. The win (25-16, 25-21, 25-19) improves the Valiants' record to 4-6 overall as the team begins conference play 1-0.

It was a dominant night from Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) who has taken to the court for multiple memorable showdowns against the Mariners. The graduate setter flirted with a triple-double as she notched a team-high 26 assists alongside 10 digs and seven aces.

On the attack front, Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy) led the way as she posted her fourth double-double of the season. The sophomore was the only Valiant to reach double-digit kills on the night as she put away 11 balls to go along with her 12 digs. Like Vital, Hernandez also found success on the service line with four aces of her own. Sofia Morales (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) and Meghan Wildes (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) both logged eight kills in the win, while Emily Brown (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Damien Memorial) added six.

RAPID REACTION: Hear from leading presence at the net, Meghan Wildes (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and Skyline Rookie of the Week, Samantha Andriola (Garden City South, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy)! pic.twitter.com/mrfaTWhmxS

— Manhattanville College Valiants (@GoValiants) September 21, 2023

The Skyline's Libero of the Week Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) continued her strong play with a team-best 19 digs, adding seven assists.

The Valiants methodically built up a lead in the opening frame after surrendering the opening two points to the Mariners, proceeding to score five of the next six points. Up 5-3, Manhattanville would never surrender the lead for the rest of the set. USMMA hung around as an Amy Jones kill moved their deficit to 9-11, but three straight points via kills from Hernandez and Morales gave the Valiants enough breathing room to work with the rest of the way. The lead never dipped below three and the home squad took the opening set 25-16, closing out the frame on a 6-1 run.

Merchant Marine would once again take the first two points in set two, building their way to a 7-4 advantage. The Mariners had a response to every early momentum swing the Valiants began to mount as they continued to lead up to the 14-12 mark. A kill from Brown kickstarted a five point Manhattanville run to put the Valiants ahead 17-14 and firmly swing control back onto their side of the court. The Mariners narrowed the gap to as little as two points and would hold the Valiants at set point twice at 24-21, but Wildes put an end to the frame by making up for her attack error in the previous volley with a set-winning kill, 25-21.

Vital rattled off four straight service aces to begin the third set, putting the Valiants in the drivers seat. The lead would never fully dissipate, even after USMMA made it a one point game at 8-7. A big three point run highlighted by back-to-back aces off the serves of Hernandez put the Valiants up 16-11 in the latter half, with the home team cruising from there to complete the sweep with a 25-19 victory.   

Up Next
The Valiats head to New Paltz this weekend for tri-match action, taking on the host Hawks ahead of a neutral site tilt with Ithaca starting at 10:30 a.m.

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