PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence women's volleyball team wrapped up an extremely successful 2024 campaign with a Skyline semifinal matchup against the Valiants of Manhattanville University. The Gryphons took the first set before Manhattanville rallied for three straight to remain spotless in Skyline play.

Notable Performers

• Athena Kazos rounded out her 300-kill and 300-dig season with a team-high 18 kills and 14 digs
• Skyline Rookie of the Year Nikolet Vataj earned her 300th kill of the season early in the first set, eventually totaling 17 kills and 15 digs for the Gryphons
• Senior Georgi Massey put up a match-high 39 assists to go along with 12 digs and an ace
• Kaille Ferguson led the team with 21 digs, including some spectacular rally-saving efforts

How it Happened

The first set of the day foreshadowed a long, grueling match to come, as neither team would go down without a fight. The Gryphons would stay in control towards the beginning, as a trio of kills from Kazos and an ace by the all-conference junior would put the team up 6-3. A pair of Vataj kills would follow in the coming rallies, keeping the Gryphons ahead 8-5. Manhattanville's Loren Hernandez, the Skyline Player of the Year, would bring the score to 8-6 and start a 9-1 run by the top-seeded hosts as they would take a 14-9 lead and demonstrate why they are undefeated in conference play since 2022. A Milly Guemple ace and another Kazos kill would help the Gryphons end the run, but the Valiants would remain ahead 19-13 as they threatened to take an early one-set lead in the match. A pair of kills from SLC's start first year would catalyze an 8-1 run for the Gryphons, capitalizing on a run of Manhattanville errors and ending with a Jenna Lehnhart kill that gave the visitors a 21-20 lead. After two kills by Hernandez to put the hosts up 22-21, a service error would tie the set once again and return the serve to SLC. The teams would then trade errors and find themselves tied at 23 with a chance at set point on the line. Hernandez would be called on once again and come through for the Valiants, giving them set point and a chance for an early lead. A service error by Hernandez on the ensuing possession would return the score to a tie and a kill by Kazos in the next rally would give SLC their first shot at set point. Hernandez would once again answer the call for the Valiants, earning another kill to tie the set before Kazos took her turn with an answer, putting the Gryphons ahead 26-25. The next rally would see Vataj take her turn, scoring the 26th and final point of the set for the visitors to take a one-set lead over the top-seeded Valiants.

The second set saw the Valiants jump ahead with an early lead, taking four of the first five points despite a set-opening double block by Carolyn Kelly and Kazos. The Gryphons would keep the set close, as kills by Vataj, Guemple and Kazos would help prevent Manhattanville from opening up a large lead. Another double block, this time from Kelly and Gumple, would help the Gryphons get within one point, but a 6-2 run by the hosts would keep the Valiants ahead, with back-to-back blocks and a kill giving them an 18-13 lead. Kazos, Vataj and Guemple would register kills throughout the remainder of the set, but the Valiants would keep their distance and tie the match at one set apiece following a 25-20 victory.

The third set started with a Manhattanville error before the teams took their turns trading small runs.The Valiants went first, scoring three straight points on a pair of kills and an ace by Hernandez. The Gryphons then took the next three, bookending a kill by Kelly with two Manhattanville errors. Back-to-back blocks by the Valiants gave them a one-point advantage but kills by Kelly and Vataj answered and returned the lead to SLC. After trading points for four more rallies, a second straight error by Hernandez gave the Gryphons a two-point advantage. The player of the year would redeem herself in the next rally, reducing the lead to one once again before another Milly Guemple kill gave the Gryphons another two-point advantage. The Valiants would then take seven consecutive points, five of which came via Hernandez kills, to take a 15-10 lead and force the Gryphons to play catch up. Guemple and Kelly would register kills in the coming rallies, but the Valiants would stay ahead, getting to 21-14 and looking poised to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Gryphons would not give up, including a Lehnhart kill late in the set, but the Valiants would hold on for a 25-17 set victory and take a second set in the semifinal matchup.

The fourth and final set was just as closely contested as the first three, with each team making their case for a spot in the championship match. The Gryphons would come out in control, with a Georgi Massey ace and a double block by Kelly and Eve Iceton helping the team get ahead to the tune of a 4-0 lead. An immediate response by the Valiants tied the set at four points apiece and the teams once again seemed destined to go the distance. A pair of kills by Kazos sandwiched one by Vataj as the Gryphons took a brief 7-4 lead, but a four-point swing a few rallies later by the hosts tied the set at nine. The Gryphons took six of the next eight points, eventually holding a 20-15 lead and threatening to send the match to a decisive fifth set. The Valiants refused to submit, allowing the Gryphons just one point for the remainder of the match as three straight service aces secured a 25-21 set victory and a trip to the conference championship on Saturday.