NAZARETH, N.Y. - Playing in their first contest of the Nazareth Quad-Match, the Manhattanville University men's volleyball team was eked out by a nationally ranked Hobart squad, 3-0, falling to the Statesmen in straight sets, 16-25, 23-25, 23-25. With the loss, the Valiants find themselves with a 2-6 record with four more tune-up contests before their first Skyline Conference tilt.
As has been the case for most of the young season, the Valiant attack was led by Emil Medrano (San Cristobal, Republica Dominicana/HS for Environmental Studies), as the sophomore buried eleven kills while also registering seven digs. Kyle Simmons (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) followed closely behind with seven kills of his own, leading the team in service aces totaling four. Mason Moon (Rockport, Texas/Rockport-Fulton) was tabbed with the setting duties for the Valiants has he dished out 16 assists, and leading the Manhattanville defensive unit with nine digs, one shy of a double-double.
Despite hitting a match-low -.043 percent, the Valiants tied the contest on multiple occasions with help from the Statesmen's attack and service errors to see the score sit at 15-all. Hobart would then go on a seven-point swing Daniel Sappia, pushing the margin to 22-15 for the Statesmen thanks to kills and attack errors and closing out the set by taking the next three out of four points, taking the first stanza 25-16, leading 1-0.
Opposite to the first frame, the Valiants hit their best on the night, turning in a swing percentage of .391, Manhattanville would have to showcase their hitting prowess later in the second set, as the Statesmen mounted an early 15-6 lead over the Vals. Manhattanville would spark a little run of their own, as Medrano and Simmons hit the Valiants back into the contest taking the next five markers and settling the score at 15-11. Hobart would answer right back as they once again pushed the score into their favor, 21-13. The aforementioned hot hitting from Manhattanville would occur after Kylan Gretczko (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) would sub into the middle and help bolster the Valiant block efforts. Manhattanville then took the next seven out of nine points, with Simmons collecting three service aces as the rally kicked off, punctuated by a Gretczko solo block, putting the Valiants within striking distance, 21-23. The two squads would then trade blows, as Hobart struck first with a Sappia kill, sitting one point away from taking the set. Manhattanville did not wavier, with a kill from Gretczko and another one coming from Medrano, having the Valiants one point behind from tying, 23-24. Hobart consequently took the final point from an Aiden Kemora swing, taking the second set, 25-23, and sitting at a 2-0 advantage.
In the third, and final set, Manhattanville would outhit their opponents in another tightly contested frame, .194 percent to the opposition's .167 percent. As the two teams went back-and-forth, the Valiants would register their first lead of the contest, as they were able to establish a 10-9 lead from back-to-back kills from Justin Lau (Queens, N.Y./Benjamin N. Cardozo) and Medrano. Manhattanville would continue to hold the lead until Hobart would firmly grab it back later in the third set at 18-19. The score would settle at a 22-all tie, as the Statesmen would take the remaining three of four points for another 25-23 set win and the 3-0 victory on the first day of the Nazareth Quad-Match.
Up Next
The Valiants return to Kidera Gymnasium to finish their trek up to Rochester, taking on Endicott and hosts Nazareth, at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
VALIANTS on SOCIAL MEDIA For the latest on Manhattanville Athletics, follow the Valiants via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads and YouTube. #WeAreValiant #GoValiants
