HOBOKEN, N.J. – Meeting for the first time since the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Manhattanville University women's volleyball team suffered a sweep at the hands of the Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday night. The 3-0 loss (16-25, 24-26, 18-25) brings the Valiants' record to 2-3 overall.

The start of Manhattanville's mini residency in the Garden State has been less than ideal, as the Valiants have posted their two-lowest attack percentages of the season across the first two of seven straight matches taking place in New Jersey. After hitting .090 in yesterday's loss to William Paterson, the Valiants were held to a .011 mark against the Ducks, logging a season-low 23 kills to 22 errors.

Ayla Ruiz (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Andrew's Schools) found the most success on the Valiant attack on Friday night with eight kills, leading all players across both teams. Loren Hernandez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/American Military Academy) finished with seven kills, while Sofia Morales (Tolland, Conn./Tolland) added three.

A day removed from becoming Manhattanville's all-time digs leader, Grace Ballagas (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Robinson School) furthered her hold on the record with a team-leading eight digs. Samantha Andriola (Garden City South, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) dug out six balls, while Ruiz, Hernandez and Alana Rivera (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista de Guaynabo) each finished with four. Rivera led the setting effort with 14 assists with Andriola chipping in seven.

The Duck attack was on full display in the opening set as Stevens hit .520 in the first. After trading opening points, Stevens scored the next three and never looked back. The Valiants hung around for the start, but a 4-0 run for the Ducks put the home team up 13-7. Manhattanville never got closer than a four point deficit with Stevens taking the opener, 25-16.

Neither attack was able to get into a rhythm in the second, with the teams combining for 15 errors to 16 kills. The Ducks jumped out to an 8-1 run on three aces, four Valiant attack errors and one kill. Manhattanville immediately got back into it with a 7-1 run on their side, getting a kill each from Ruiz and Andriola and an Andriola ace in conjunction with three Stevens attack errors and a service error. The Valiants continued to remain within striking distance as Stevens nursed a 16-14 advantage when Manhattanville rattled off five straight points. The run saw a pair of aces and a kill by Hernandez and a pair of miscue by the Ducks to put the Vals ahead 19-16. Stevens retook the lead at 22-21 before kills by Ruiz and Hernandez shifted the advantage back to the other side of the floor. The Valiants reached set point on a 24-23 lead off another Hernandez kill, but the Ducks benefited from a Manhattanville service error and bad set to retake the lead before winning the frame on a Meg Dion ace, 26-24.

Manhattanville was unable to recreate the formula that worked in the second as the Valiants hit negative for the third set. Stevens pulled away with a 10-2 run to go ahead 14-6, and while Manhattanville went on a late 6-1 surge, it was ultimately too late as the Ducks completed the sweep, 25-18.

Up Next
The Valiants return to the campus of Stevens tomorrow afternoon for a pair of neutral-site matchups. Manhattanville takes on Bowdoin at noon ahead of a 4 p.m. clash with #3 NYU.

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