PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – The Valiants are off to Long Island on Thursday as the Manhattanville University men's volleyball team makes its first-ever appearance in the Skyline Conference Championship semifinals. After earning the first postseason victory in the team's two-year history on Tuesday, Manhattanville faces a new challenge in the form of the top-seeded Golden Eagles of Saint Joseph's Long Island who are looking to win a fourth-straight Skyline title.
Men's Volleyball Preview: No. 4 Manhattanville University at No. 1 Saint Joseph's University Long Island | Skyline Conference Championship Semifinals | Thursday, 7 p.m. | Live Stats | Video | Tickets | Tournament Central
How We Got Here
The Valiants continued to add to their young history on Tuesday night by earning the team's first postseason win. Manhattanville welcomed No. 5 Purchase into Kennedy Gymnasium, squaring off with the Panthers for the third time in ten days. The Valiants took care of business in a straight-set sweep, although the Anderson Hill Road neighbors did not make it easy. Manhattanville dominated in set two, 25-12, but needed extra points to win the opening frame 28-26, while set three also went down to the wire in a 25-23 decision.
Buried in the box score was a showcase of the team's resiliency as Manhattanville came all the way back from an 11-2 deficit in the opening set to capture the win, a momentum swing that the Valiants rode all the way to victory over the rest of the night.
While the Valiants enter uncharted territory in the semifinals, the Golden Eagles have taken up permanent residency in the tournament's final two rounds. Saint Joseph's wrapped up a perfect 18-0 regular season in Skyline play in search of a fourth-straight conference title. The Golden Eagles have been, in a word, dominant when it comes to Skyline opposition, dropping just one match to a conference rival over the last four years.
The Golden Eagles have been led by Skyline Player of the Year Luke MacPherson who racked up 207 kills, 125 digs, 29 aces, 27 blocks and 15 assists as one of the conference's top all-around threats. SJLI is coached by Bill Kropp, who took home his sixth Coach of the Year honor leading a squad that had four total All-Conference selections.
Last Time Out
Manhattanville were the victims of two of the Golden Eagles' 18 conference wins, falling in three sets in Patchogue on March 27 before dropping a three-setter to them at home four days later. The Valiants hung around in the match held inside Kennedy, including a 25-23 third set to make it clear Thursday will be anything but a walk in the park for the team perched atop the conference.
Tournament History
Manhattanville is now 1-1 in postseason play after Tuesday's win over Purchase. The Golden Eagles have won six straight matches in the Skyline Conference Championship, with their last loss coming in the 2021 finals against New Jersey City.
Team Leaders
Manhattanville
- Kills Per Set: Simmons (3.05), Gandarillas (2.29), Gretczko (1.73)
- Assists Per Set: Moon (9.12), Rapp (0.32), Gandarillas (0.31)
- Digs Per Set: Rapp (2.38), Moon (1.72), Diamond (1.55), Gandarillas (1.55)
- Service Aces: Simmons (38), Gandarillas (30), Moon (24)
- Blocks: Simmons (43), Lau (41), Granados (39)
Saint Joseph's Long Island
- Kills Per Set: MacPherson (3.09), Meyer (2.23), Foglia (2.04)
- Assists Per Set: Kropp (9.31), Ruggiero (1.84), MacPherson (0.22)
- Digs Per Set: MacPherson (1.87), Anderson (1.82), Meyer (1.72)
- Service Aces: MacPherson (29), Ruggiero (21), Anderson (16)
- Blocks: Foglia (79), Anderson (47), Esposito (35)
History
- All-Time Record vs Saint Joseph's Long Island: 0-4
- Streak: SJLI W4
- Series Record at Saint Joseph's Long Island: 0-1
- Previous Matchups (Home team listed second):
- 3/31/25: SJLI 3, Manhattanville 0
- 3/27/25: Manhattanville 0, SJLI 3
- 3/5/24: SJLI 3, Manhattanville 0
- 3/3/24: Manhattanville 0, SJLI 3 (Neutral site)
