JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Manhattanville University men's volleyball team saw its program-high eight-match winning streak come to an end on Tuesday night, falling to New Jersey City University in a three-set affair. The loss (16-25, 12-25, 16-25) drops the Valiants to 11-14 overall and 9-4 in Skyline Conference play, dropping to fourth in the conference standings with five matches left to play in the regular season.

The Valiants were limited to 28 kills, the team's lowest single-match total in its last 12 outings, and a season-low 19 digs in the loss.

Offensively, Kyle Simmons (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) found the most success with 10 kills, his 12^th match this freshman season reaching double figures. Joe Gandarillas (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem HS East) supplied six terminations, while Matt Diamond (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) and Kylan Gretczko (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) added five.

Gandarillas finished with a team-high six digs, with Diamond providing five and Evan Rapp (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) coming off his Skyline Libero of the Week appointment with four.

Mason Moon (Rockport, Texas/Rockport-Fulton) tallied 25 assists, all but two of Manhattanville's helpers in the contest.

After running roughshod through opposition for the last three weeks, the Valiants ran into a buzzsaw of the Gothic Knights. NJCU hit .553 in the match, by far the best hitting percentage a team has had in a match against the Valiants this season. The Gothic Knights opened the night swinging .609 in the first set, pulling away after Manhattanville nabbed early 2-0 and 5-4 leads. The Valiant were able to remain within striking distance through the early going before NJCU rattled off seven straight points to go up 20-11. Manhattanville could not mount a response to the run, dropping the set 25-16.

While the Gothic Knights could not replicate the astronomical numbers from the first set, the Valiants' attack effort also declined over the next two sets and Jersey City made quick work in the second frame. NJCU still hit at a stellar .593 rate in the second, scoring the first four points to take the lead and remain in front until set point. The Valiants did not have a single multi-point run in the frame as the Gothic Knights cruised to a 25-12 win.

After both teams opened the third with two-point blows, NJCU scored the next five to take the final lead of the night. Another 5-0 run put the Gothic Knights comfortably in front 12-3. The home side built up a 24-12 advantage before the Valiants put up their final effort with a match-high four-point run before NJCU delivered the final blow with the match-winning kill, 25-16.

Up Next
Manhattanville looks to quickly move past this one, returning to play on Thursday night against Saint Joseph's Long Island at 7 p.m.

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