PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College women's volleyball team returned to action on their home court on Thursday night, defeating the visiting William Paterson in a three-set sweep. The decision (27-25, 25-23, 25-22) brings the Valiants' record back up to .500 as the team gets set for a string of five straight road matches.
While the Valiants record 45 kills compared to the Pioneers' 29, it was a well-spread attack that got the job done. Nine separate Valiants logged a putaway in the victory, led by nine apiece from
Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools) and
Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy).
Emily Brown (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Damien Memorial) and
Sofia Morales (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) added seven kills each, followed behind by five kill efforts from
Meghan Wildes (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and
Zoe Zols (Queens, N.Y./St. Francis Prep).
A match removed from joining the 1,000 dig club,
Vianca Vital (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Perpetuo Socorro) continued her march towards another milestone as she led the team with 34 assists in the win. The graduate student stands at 2,667 helpers for her career, climbing closer towards Megan Quinabo's career program record of 3,094 set in 2016.
Vital added 11 digs for her third double-double of the year and was second to only
Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) on the team in the defensive category who logged 23 digs. Ballagas added two service aces in the win, a total matched by rookie
Kayla Jennings (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) for the home squad.
Just like their tilt with another NJAC school in Ramapo from Tuesday, Thursday's action featured three sets that came down to the wire. After a quick 3-1 start for the Pioneers, the Valiants put up four straight points to take a 5-3 advantage. Despite the narrow lead, it would hold for most of the opening frame as the Valiants scored crucial points every time William Paterson pulled back within one. With the Valiants up 13-12, Wildes logged a kill to regain the serve to begin a four point run. Another string of three points shortly after had the Valiants knocking on the door of the first set, leading 22-15. The Pioneers, however, had other plans as the guests scored 10 of the next 12 points to come roaring back with a 25-24 advantage. Determined to not let the night start off the way Tuesday's match played out, Ruiz delivered a kill to even the score at 25-25. Ballagas recorded an ace to regain the lead before a final kill from Ruiz allowed the Valiants to hold on with a 27-25 opening set win.
The second frame opened with the teams trading extended runs. After the Valiants scored the first two points, the Pioneers scored six straight to take an early advantage. Manhattanville responded in turn with a six point run of their own before the teams battled to five separate tied scores. Evened up at 13-13, Manhattanville scored six of the next seven points to gain some much needed breathing room. They would prove to need all of it as the Pioneers once again came back to life to close the gap and cut Manhattanville's lead down to 23-22. This time, the Valiants were able to thwart off the comeback attempt and win the set in 25 points, getting kills from Brown and Hernandez to close out the 25-23 frame.
The Pioneers would make Manhattanville work for the three set sweep, opening the frame with the first four points. The teams traded runs, with the Valiants scoring four straight of their own before a pair of three-point rallies moved the score to 7-7. The score would be evened up four more times before things were said and done, moving to 13-13. A crucial 5-1 streak for Manhattanville put the home team up 18-14, finally putting the team ahead with a lead they would hold the rest of the night. While William Paterson was able to pull back within one, the Valiants held firm, closing the night out on Hernandez' ninth and final kill of the evening to complete the sweep, 25-22.
Up Next
It's short rest for the Vals who head to the Garden State tomorrow for a trimatch. Manhattanville will compete in the Kean Invitational with matches against the hosting Cougars at 5 p.m. before a neutral site tilt against Gettysburg at 7:30.
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