BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Kyle Simmons (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) was a threat on both offense and defense to put the Valiants on top of the Bears in three (25-23, 25-17, 25-20). Manhattanville improves to 8-4 in conference (9-12 overall) with the fourth-straight win, while St. Joseph's Brooklyn is now even at 9-9 (6-6 Skyline).
Simmons sent down 12 kills, received 15 digs, and shut down the Bears with three blocks. Along with Simmons, Trevor Kolar (South Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) was a key part of the victory, recording 16 kills, two aces, and four digs.
Pedro Machado (Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil/Colegio Oficina) and Mason Moon (Rockport, Texas/Rockport-Fulton) contributed to 38 of the team's total 42 assists, Machado leading with 20 and Moon close behind with 18.
The first set began head-to-head until the Valiants were able to gain a slight edge to push out 8-4, then again 17-13. The Bears hung right with the Vals right before three consecutive points from Kolar (Kill, Ace, Ace) got his team within two. A kill from Joe Gandarillas (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem HS East) and Simmons sealed set one 25-23.
A block from Adrian Bonilla (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Baldwin School of Puerto Rico) and Simmons emphasized the team's beginning of the second set, putting them out 7-2. An abundance of kills from the Valiants inched their lead up into the 20s while forcing the home team to stay until 15, 21-13. A Kolar kill grabbed set two 25-17.
Set three began with the same pattern as the one prior, with the away team jumping out 7-3 with three kills from Kolar, one from Simmons, and Justin Lau (Queens, N.Y./Benjamin N. Cardozo). The home team went on a five-point run to take a slight 9-9 lead, setting the pattern of back-and-forth scoring for both teams. A kill from Kolar regained the lead at 14-13 before an Ace from Moon, and an attack error on the bears pushed the slim lead out to 16-13.
Simmons, Lau, and Kolar sent down the ball to put the Vals within three, 22-19. Lau put down a service ace, allowing Gandarillas to seal the deal with a kill.
Up Next – The Valiants head on the road for one last time during the regular season, facing Old Westbury on Tuesday at 6 PM.
