THROGGS NECK, NY – After playing six out of seven on the road, the Maritime College volleyball team began a three-match homestand by welcoming Manhattanville on Riesenberg Gymnasium on Saturday.  Taking on the two-time defending Skyline Conference champion Valiants (11-8, 5-0 Skyline), the Privateers (4-16, 1-4 Skyline) fell by a 25-15, 25-20, 25-14 count.

The first set was tied at 3-3 when Manhattanville went on a 9-1 run to open up a 12-4 cushion.  A block by Ashley Pavarini (Ossining, NY) and Grace Devaney (Lynbrook, NY) brought the Privateers back within 14-8 before the Valiants responded with seven of the next eight points to increase their lead to 21-9.  Maritime scored four straight points to trim its deficit to 21-13, but Manhattanville claimed the next three and took the opening set, 25-15.

In the second set, there were five ties and three lead changes.  After Manhattanville jumped in front 7-2, Maritime used an 8-0 run highlighted by three Devaney service aces to go ahead 10-7.  The Valiants rallied to level the score at 10-10 before a Samantha Hart (Brooklyn, NY) kill sparked a 4-0 spurt that gave the Privateers a 14-10 advantage.  However, Manhattanville countered with a seven-point rally to take a 17-14 lead.  The Valiants went ahead 2-0 in the match with a 25-20 set win.

Manhattanville built a 14-4 advantage to start the third set.  Maritime earned four of the next five points to pull within 15-8, but would get no closer.  The Valiants finished off the 3-0 sweep by earning a 25-14 third-set triumph.

Soraya Hall (Valrico, FL) paced the Privateers with six kills, while Mikaela Thiel (Fort Morgan, CO) finished with seven assists and a team-high 12 digs.  Pavarini had five kills and six assists to go along with six digs and three blocks.  Devaney, meanwhile, recorded four aces and three blocks.

For the Valiants, Aurea Obradors led the way with nine kills on .368 hitting.  Loren Hernandez tallied eight kills and a match-best 13 digs, and Sofia Morales contributed seven kills.  Alana Rivera handed out 28 assists to go along with seven digs, while Kayla Jennings notched 10 digs and four aces.  As a team, Manhattanville served 13 aces and held a 57-45 advantage in digs.

Up next for Maritime is a 7:30 p.m. matchup with Mount St. Vincent (3-11, 0-5 Skyline) at Riesenberg Gymnasium on Tuesday.