NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Sarah Lawrence women's volleyball team fell to both Manhattanville University and John Jay College in three sets on Saturday. The Gryphons took the reigning Skyline champs to a 28-26 first set and battled the Bloodhounds to the tune of a 26-24 scoreline in the second match.
Notable Performers
- Valerie Hertig and Ava Castro-Devarona each compiled a 20-assist effort for SLC
- Athena Kazos led the Gryphons with 26 kills and added in 19 digs on the day
- Kaille Ferguson totaled 33 digs between the day's two matches
Match #1: Gryphons vs Valiants
The first set was the most competitive, as Sarah Lawrence showed resilience in a back-and-forth battle that saw numerous lead changes. Manhattanville gained the early edge, but key kills by Kazos and Nikolet Vataj, along with service aces from Ferguson, helped Sarah Lawrence claw their way back into the set. The Gryphons managed to tie the score several times and even had set points, but the Valiants narrowly edged them out, taking the set 28-26.
The second set saw Manhattanville quickly build momentum, establishing an early lead that Sarah Lawrence struggled to overcome. Despite strong efforts from Kazos, who recorded several kills, the Gryphons were plagued by attack errors, which allowed the Valiants to dominate. A few bright spots for Sarah Lawrence included a kill by Carolyn Kelly and another service ace from Ferguson, but Manhattanville continued to apply pressure and won the set 25-11, putting Sarah Lawrence in a tough position.
In the final set, Manhattanville maintained their control over the match, jumping out to a substantial lead once again. Sarah Lawrence had a hard time finding their rhythm offensively, with kills from Jenna Lehnhart and Georgi Massey providing brief moments of relief. However, Manhattanville's consistent attack and effective serving proved too much for the Gryphons, as they secured the set 25-11 and closed out the match. While the Gryphons showed flashes of solid play, they were ultimately unable to overcome Manhattanville's strong performance.
Match #2: Gryphons at Bloodhounds
The first set saw Sarah Lawrence put up a strong fight early on, keeping pace with John Jay. Key plays by Kazos and Nikolet Vataj helped the Gryphons stay competitive, but a surge from John Jay after the midway point allowed them to pull ahead. Despite a late rally from Sarah Lawrence, including kills by Kelly and Lehnhart, John Jay closed the set 25-18.
The second set was the closest and most thrilling of the match. Sarah Lawrence came out determined, building a small lead early with sharp serves from Kaille Ferguson and well-placed attacks from Kazos and Vataj. The Gryphons managed to edge ahead 24-23, earning a set point, but they were unable to capitalize. John Jay responded with a pair of kills and an ace, winning the set 26-24 in a heartbreaking finish for Sarah Lawrence.
In the third and final set, Sarah Lawrence once again showed moments of resilience. A strong start saw Kazos and Massey connecting on kills, keeping the score close early. However, errors and John Jay's consistent serving pressure widened the gap as the set progressed. Despite solid defensive efforts from libero Ferguson and a late offensive push from Vataj, Sarah Lawrence couldn't mount a comeback, falling 18-25.
Up Next
The Gryphons (7-5, Skyline 1-1) will return to action on Tuesday, October 1st as they head down the road to Riverdale for a matchhup with Skyline foe Mount Saint Vincent. First serve is slated for 6:00 p.m. between the Dolphins and the Gryphons.
