2022 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Championship - Semifinal
(3) Manhattanville 3, (2) Farmingdale State 0
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | Third-seeded Manhattanville College held off late-set rallies in each of the three frames Thursday night at the Walter A. Lynch Sports Center, as the Valiants captured a 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-22, 25-22) over No. 2-seed host Farmingdale State College in semifinal action of the 2022 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Championship.
Manhattanville (23-6) advances to Saturday's championship final at top-seeded U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at 4 p.m.
Farmingdale State (15-8) received a match-high 17 points from junior middle blocker Kalena Ricketts (Cambria Hts., N.Y.), who put down 13 kills at a .500 hitting percentage, while also setting five total blocks (three solo). Sophomore middle Mikayla Profeta (Knoxville, Tenn.) added eight kills while posting a career-best .615 hitting percentage on 13 error-free attacks for the Rams, who hit at a .172 clip on the evening. Senior setter Lexi Cavalieri (Lake Grove, N.Y.) dished out 18 assists while adding a team-high three service aces, while freshman setter Danielle Marullo (Patchogue, N.Y.) added 16 assists. Senior outside Cathleen Farrell (Bayport, N.Y.) passed a team-best 15 digs.
The visiting Valiants pulled away in set one to a 21-14 advantage, before FSC responded out of a time out with five straight points behind the serving of senior Kate Flamio (E. Islip, N.Y.) to pull to within two points. The two sides traded points, before three of the last four of the stanza went to Manhattanville to give its side a 1-0 edge in the match.
Cavalieri's three-straight aces knotted set two up at 10-all, before the Valiants ripped off eight of the next nine points to hold a 19-11 edge. Marullo's serving and a pair of blocks helped the Rams to eight-consecutive points cut the hosts' deficit to 23-21. Manhattanville then collected a side out, before the squads traded one point apiece to send the visitors ahead by a 2-0 margin in match play.
Both teams ripped off five-point stretches midway through the third frame, with Profeta's service ace drawing the hosts to with a 20-19 count. FSC responded to the Valiants' side out with two points of their own, including a solo block by Ricketts, to tie things up at 21 apiece. Three-consecutive points by the Valiants gave their side a lead that it would not relinquish to close out the competitive match.