HARRISON, N.Y. — The Sarah Lawrence College women's volleyball team continued its unbeaten run in Skyline Conference play Tuesday, October 27, battling past Manhattanville College for a 3-2 victory at Kennedy Gymnasium. The Gryphons won by set scores of 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25 and 15-11.
Sarah Lawrence improved to 22-2 overall and 8-0 in Skyline play with the win, while Manhattanville dropped to 8-10 overall and 5-3 in conference action.
Caroline Combs paced the Gryphons with a match-high 28 kills, hitting .268 while adding 11 digs and two service aces. Nikolet Vataj contributed 13 kills, 14 digs and three aces, while Charlotte Siemsen delivered season highs in both kills and digs, finishing with eight kills and four digs. Siemsen also led the defensive effort at the net with six total blocks.
Sophia Costa directed the Sarah Lawrence offense with 41 assists, adding nine digs, two service aces and four total blocks. Kai Perkins recorded a season-high six assists while anchoring the back row with a team-best 19 digs.
The Gryphons established control early, taking the opening set 25-19 behind an efficient offensive performance. Manhattanville responded in the second, edging Sarah Lawrence 25-22 to even the match at one set apiece.
Sarah Lawrence regained the advantage in the third set, 25-22, but the Valiants answered once again, claiming the fourth set 25-21 to force a decisive fifth.
In the final set, the Gryphons rose to the occasion. Sarah Lawrence recorded five kills with just one attack error, hitting .364 in the deciding frame while limiting Manhattanville to a .143 hitting percentage. The Gryphons closed out the 15-11 victory to secure the hard-fought conference win.
Sarah Lawrence finished with 58 kills on a .215 hitting percentage, matching Manhattanville's 58 kills while holding advantages in blocks, 9-5, and digs, 68-65. The Gryphons' defensive pressure at the net and ability to deliver in the deciding set proved critical in the victory.
With the win, Sarah Lawrence remained unbeaten in Skyline Conference play and strengthened its position near the top of the conference standings. The Gryphons will return to action Thursday, October 29, hosting St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn in another Skyline matchup at 6 p.m.
