PURCHASE, N.Y. – Squaring off against the Golden Eagles for the second time in three days, the Manhattanville College men's volleyball team was defeated in three sets by Saint Joseph's University Long Island on Tuesday night. With the loss (18-25, 7-25, 12-25), the Valiants fall to 5-9 overall on the season and 1-3 in Skyline Conference action.

Emil Morban Medrano (San Cristobal, Republica Dominicana/HS for Environmental Studies) led the Valiant attack with seven kills. Wilton Martinez (Bronx, N.Y./Celia Cruz Bronx HS of Music) added four putaways, while Jacob Fletcher (Rocklin, Calif./Western Sierra Collegiate Academy) and Joe Gandarillas (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem HS East) each finished with three.
Medrano also led the defensive effort with five digs, followed by three from Jake Rothluebbers (Redondo Beach, Calif./Redondo Union High School) and two by Gandarillas and Nash Torres (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Colegio Rosa-Bell).

Idris Idris (Kassala, Sudan/JFK High School) accounted for 16 of the Valiants' 18 total assists. He would also finish with a team-high three aces.

Three Golden Eagle points got the night off to a quick start for the visitors who would pull ahead 7-2. The Valiants came back to score the next four with a kill from Medrano, a pair of Irdris aces, and a Golden Eagle attack error. The Saint Joseph's lead held at a single point at 9-8 before the Golden Eagles strung together the next four points to go comfortably ahead. The Valiants would be unable to get back closer than four points, ultimately falling 25-18 in the first set.

Saint Joseph's hit a remarkable .643 in the second set as the Valiants were unable to keep up with them stride for stride. Fletcher put the Valiants on the board first with a kill, but the Golden Eagles scored eight straight and never looked back. Manhattanville did not score a single point whilst controlling the serve and never made the set closer than a six point deficit with Saint Joseph's cruising to the 25-7 set final.

While the Valiants were able to keep things close through the start of the third set, the Golden Eagles would eventually pull away to complete the sweep. Manhattanville led early by scores of 2-1 and 3-2 before the Golden Eagles rattle off three straight to go ahead. The Valiants tied things up at 5-5 before another three-point string by Saint Joseph's had the Golden Eagles in front once again. Manhattanvillle remained within three points up until a 12-9 Saint Joseph's lead where the Golden Eagles scored six straight to firmly go in front. The visitors ended the match with the final three points to win the final set 25-12.

Up Next
The Valiants look to bounce back on Thursday night when they travel to Old Westbury for a 6 p.m. Skyline Conference tilt.

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