THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Manhattanville University women's volleyball team got back into the win column to close out the week on Saturday, notching a three-set victory at Maritime College. With the win (25-20, 25-22, 25-11), the Valiants improve to 6-9 overall and now stand 3-2 in Skyline Conference action.
Manhattanville rode a season-high .266 hitting percentage to the victory on Saturday, finishing with 35 kills to just 10 errors.
Cassidy Fallon (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) led the charge with 11 kills, her second time in double-figures this season behind her 12 putaway performance against Nichols on Sept. 25. Fallon also added three blocks in the front row.
Caylin Caballero (Eastvale, Calif./Walnut) finished with seven kills for the Valiants, while
Aurea Obradors (Barcelona, Spain/Benjamin Franklin International School) and
Ava Callaghan (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley) each added six.
Alana Rivera Torres (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista de Guaynabo) and
Eva Becerra (West Covina, Calif./Walnut) combined for 30 of the Valiants' 32 total assists, splitting setter responsibilities. Rivera Torres paced the unit with 16, while Becerra provided another 14.
The remaining two Valiant assists belonged to
Kayla Jennings (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland), who led Manhattanville on the defensive side with 18 digs. Rivera Torres and Caballero both ended the day with seven digs.
Manhattanville added nine aces in the win, with Rivera Torres supplying a team-high three. Fallon, Jennings and Becerra all notched a pair.
The early advantage belonged to the home team, as the Privateers opened the day on a 4-2 run and went on to lead by as many as five at 15-10. The Valiants came to life as they faced their largest deficit, climbing out the of the hole with a 10-1 run to flip the momentum and jump ahead at 20-16. Maritime responded with the next three points to make it a one-point set, but the Valiants completed the comeback with a 5-1 closing run to take the opener, 25-20. The winning run featured a pair of Caballero kills and one apiece from Callaghan and Fallon before a set-ending Maritime attack error.
A pair of Rivera Torres aces and a Callaghan kill opened set two for the Valiants with a 3-0 lead. Maritime would hang around, erasing a four-point deficit to tie the score at 13-13. The Valiants broke the tie with seven of the next eight points to pull ahead 20-14, but the Privateers did not go away easily. Trailing 23-17, Maritime rattled off five straight to make it a one score game again. However, a service error ended the run and gave Manhattanville control of the serve on set point. Rivera Torres delivered, ending the frame the way she started it with an ace to clinch the 25-22 win.
After the tight first two sets, the Valiants ran away with the third thanks to a day-best .310 attack percentage. Manhattanville again scored three straight points to open play thanks to a Maritime service error and kills from Obradors and
Monika Gojcaj (Brewster, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic). A 5-0 run featuring a Jennings ace and Caballero kill with three Maritime errors put Manhattanville in the driver's seat, up 9-2. Maritime would not go on a run longer than two consecutive points over the course of the set, allowing the Valiants to march toward match point. Up 23-11, kills by
Samantha Andriola (Garden City South, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) and Fallon sealed the deal and completed the sweep, 25-11.
Up Next
The Valiants begin a three-match homestand on Wednesday, hosting Mount Saint Vincent at 6 p.m.
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