PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Manhattanville University women's volleyball earned its first win of the season at the Johnson & Wales Invitational in game two, reaching the final score of 3-1 over Salve Regina (0-4).
The Valiants (1-3) split the day with a game-one loss to JWU (3-1).
GAME ONE – JWU 3, MVL 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-16)
The host school came out hot in the first game of the day, jumping out to an 8-4 lead in the first set. A kill from Amelia Morrison (Avon, Conn./Avon) sparked the initial battle back for a 5-2 rally, putting pressure on JWU down 9-10.
After keeping the score within one at 11-12, the Wildcats fought to hold a slim advantage before going on to score six unanswered points to put themselves up by four of taking set one. Despite even trades, the home team took the first set 25-18.
Keeping the momentum going, JWU jolted out to a 12-4 lead in set two. Caylin Caballero (Eastvale, Calif./Walnut) threw down three kills to shorten the lead to five. The Valiants benefited from two attacking errors followed by an ace from Caballero to chip away, putting set two within four, 16-12. The Wildcats found its tempo with four of the final five points coming from aces to take the second outing.
The Valiants battled in the third time taking the court, taking an early 6-5 lead. Four consecutive kills and two aces allowed the Wildcats to take the lead 15-8. JWU continued to dominate, ultimately taking the match 3-0.
GAME TWO – MVL 3, SRU 1 (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 25-15)
Caballero paved the way for her team to take the first win of the 2026 campaign with a season-high 18 kills in addition to a solo block, two service aces, and eight digs.
Kayla Jennings (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) (20) and Izzy Mojica (Tolland, Conn./The Woodstock Academy) (14) held down the court on defense with a combined 34 digs in the four sets.
Alana Rivera Torres (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista de Guaynabo) (19) and Eva Becerra (West Covina, Calif./Walnut) (14) found their teammates, with the two putting forth 33 of the team's 37 assists.
The first set set the tone of the match with an even beginning in all four sets. Caballero sent down three kills followed by a kill from Samantha Andriola (Garden City South, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) and Aurea Obradors (Barcelona, Spain/Benjamin Franklin International School) boosted the Valiants to a 12-7 run to take the first set 25-18.
With six Caballero kills, the Valiants held a slim advantage over the Seahawks in set two. After meeting on the scoreboard ten times, MVL sat ahead 22-19. Continuing the even theme, Caballero lifted the Vals to the 25-22 victory for set two.
The Seahawks took advantage of a slow start in the third set for the Valiants; after meeting at 17 SRU went on a 8-4 run to force set four.
After an explosive start from SRU, the Vals battled back to even out at six. Led by three kills from Andriola, Manhattanville went on to outperform Salve Regina in the remaining time of the match. Two service aces from Cassidy Fallon (Brewster, N.Y./Brewster) pushed the Valiants within five before they sealed the 19-9 run to take the match 3-1.
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