DANBURY, Conn. – The Manhattanville University women's volleyball team heads into the postseason with momentum, closing out the regular season with a 3-1 victory at Western Connecticut State on Wednesday night. A day removed from securing the Skyline Conference regular season crown, the Valiants defeated the Wolves (19-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-18) to pick up their 12^th win in the last 13 matches, improving to 18-9 overall.

Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools) had 18 kills to lead Manhattanville's attacking display, coming just shy of a double-double with nine digs. Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy), meanwhile, did reach double figures in both categories with 16 putaways and 16 digs along with a team-high four aces. Meghan Wildes (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) was Manhattanville's third-leading attacker on the night with six putaways.

Alana Rivera (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista de Guaynabo) joined Hernandez in the double-double display with 24 assists and 10 digs. Samantha Andriola (Garden City South, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) also heavily featured in the setting game with 16 assists.

Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) led all players on both sides of the floor with 30 digs, the second time this season that the senior libero had notched 30 or more bumps in a match.
Coming off last night's top-seed clinch, the Valiants got off to a hot start with a 6-1 lead to open up play with the Wolves. While the opening run could have easily put the set out of hand, the home team was able to take its first lead of the night at 12-11. The Valiants tied things up twice before a 6-2 WestConn run put the Wolves in front for good at 20-16. Manhattanville got as close as three before the Wolves rattled off three straight the take the opening set point, 25-19.

The Valiants shook off a .048 attacking percentage in the first set to bounce back with authority, hitting .344 in the second to even the match at a frame apiece. It was once again Manhattanville staking claim to the first lead, scoring the opening four points en route to a 6-2 lead. This time, the Valiants would not relinquish the advantage. Up 10-6, Manhattanville scored six unanswered to take a 10 point advantage. The Wolves could not do much to fight back in the set, with Ruiz ultimately delivering set point with a kill at 25-12.

While Manhattanville would be unable to match their attacking efficiency the team displayed in the second over the remainder of the match, the Valiants did log double-digit kills in both the third and fourth set while WestConn struggled to get back into an offensive rhythm as Manhattanville closed out the night. The Wolves swung just .05 in the third set and went negative in the fourth. Tied 3-3 in the third, Manhattanville was the beneficiary of a 13-3 run to take another sizeable advantage. The Wolves did not go away quietly, storming all the way back to a 19-18 deficit with a nine-point run, but Manhattanville regained distance with the next four. Ruiz once again delivered the final blow with a kill to secure the 25-21 set win.

The Wolves recorded just five kills in the fourth set as the Valiants closed out the win. Manhattanville led 15-6 before WestConn recorded its first putaway of the frame. Despite the offensive woes, the Wolves found a chance at life through the team's height at the net and multiple Manhattanville attack errors. Still, it only did so much as WestConn was unable to generate points on their own. Back-to-back Ruiz kills brought the Valiants to match point at 24-15. The Wolves won the next three rallies but a service error spelled an end to the night with Manhattanville's 25-18 win.

Up Next
The Valiants will enjoy a first round bye as the Skyline Conference Championship Tournament gets underway next week. Manhattanville returns to the court on Thursday, Nov. 14, taking on the winner of the first round No. 4-No. 5 matchup.

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