KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The Manhattanville University women's volleyball team collected a third-straight win on Thursday night, defeating the United States Merchant Marine Academy in four sets. The win (25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20) has the Valiants above .500 for the first time since the start of September, improving to 9-8 overall while maintaining a perfect 3-0 record in the Skyline Conference.

Double-doubles from Alana Rivera (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista de Guaynabo) and Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy) led the Valiants to victory. Rivera handled lead setter duties, accounting for 46 of the team's 52 assists, while logging 15 digs defensively. Hernandez, meanwhile, continued to pace the Valiant attack effort with 21 kills while collecting a season-hgih 20 digs. The double-double was Hernandez' ninth of the year and third in a row, with Rivera earning her fourth.

Rivera and Hernandez' performances were part of a 99-dig effort by the Valiants as a whole, the most recorded by the team in a match in two years. Five different players reached double digit dig totals, led by a season-high 29 by Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School). Samantha Andriola (Garden City South, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) and Alyssa Bucci (Rye Brook, N.Y./Blind Brook High School) joined in on the defensive display with 14 and 12 digs, respectively.

Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools) notched 14 kills and was another Valiant chipping in defensively, adding eight digs. The Valiants' other leading attackers on the night were Sofia Morales (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) and Meghan Wildes (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), adding seven and six kills.

After winning two-straight conference titles, the Valiants have been as strong as they come in the Skyline. The second set loss snapped a streak of 64-consecutive sets won by Manhattanville against Skyline Conference teams dating back to October 19, 2022.

The Valiants pushed that aforementioned streak up to set number 64 by taking the opener against the Mariners, returning to Kings Point for the first time since raising the 2022 Skyline Championship title. A 6-0 opening run by the Valiants prompted an early USMMA timeout and had Manhattanville in the driver's seat early, building up to an 11-2 advantage. The Mariners could only piece together a pair of three-point runs for most of the set as the Valiants continued to lead at 18-12. An Andriola putaway began a five-point swing for Manhattanville, flirting with set point at 23-12. USMMA found life following a Sydney Douglas kill, logging six-straight points aided by four Valiant errors. A Manhattanville timeout righted the ship as Manhattanville got the final two points needed, winning 25-18.

It was the Mariners' turn to open on a run in set two, building up an opening 10-4 advantage. The Valiants tried to play catchup all set long, but every time the Mariners were within arm's reach, USMMA held Manhattanville at bay. With the home team up 22-17, the Valiants scored four straight to pull within a single point. The Mariners logged the next two points following a pair of Manhattanville attack errors, and while Manhattanville atoned for the miscues following two Hernandez kills, the Mariners logged the win on Elizabeth Kay's kill to even up the match with a 25-23 win.

With their Skyline set streak snapped, Manhattanville began a new one by taking the next two frames to win the match. The Valiants hit a night-best .261 in the third frame to regain the advantage in the contest. Manhattanville used a 6-0 run to go up 10-6, securing a lead they would hold for the rest of the set. The Valiants limited USMMA's opportunities, holding the Mariners to a maximum run of three straight points, while making their way towards set point. Up 21-16, the Vals collected the final four points to win 25-16.

A tightly-contested fourth set proved to be the finale as the Valiants held off a resilient Mariner team. After USMMA captured the first two points, the Valiants went on a 7-1 run to pull in front. USMMA responded with six of the next seven to reclaim the lead, responded in short order by Manhattanville putting up five straight. USMMA called time out and returned to the floor with the next four points, tying things up at 13-13. After trading the next two points, Manhattanville went on a 4-0 run to match the largest lead of the set. The Valiants maintained the four-point advantage at 20-16, when USMMA scored three straight to once again make it a one-score affair. With the Mariners breathing down their necks, the Valiants stood firm, scoring five of the next six and collected the win on a Ballagas ace, 25-20.

Up Next
Manhattanville returns home on Wednesday night, hosting Mount Saint Mary at 6 p.m.

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