Farmingdale State - 3, Manhattanville - 2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-13)
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State women's volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat defending Skyline Conference champion Manhattanville University, 3-2, on Thursday evening. The Rams improved to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play, earning their first victory over the Valiants since October 5th, 2022.
FSC dropped the opening two sets before mounting its comeback in the third. Trailing 12-8, the Rams used eight consecutive points behind the serving of senior setter Sarah Rende (Wantagh, N.Y.) to take a 16-12 lead. After Manhattanville (5-9, 2-2 Skyline) regained the advantage at 22-21, Farmingdale State scored three of the next four points on a pair of Valiants errors and a kill by freshman right side Leslie Wandmacher (Bay Shore, N.Y.) to take a 24-22 lead. Following a Manhattanville point, junior outside hitter Samantha Russo (Bay Shore, N.Y.) finished the set with a kill to give the Rams a 25-23 victory.
Farmingdale State controlled much of the fourth set and held a 23-17 advantage before Manhattanville won six of the next seven points to cut the deficit to 24-23. Russo delivered another clutch kill to secure the 25-23 win and force a decisive fifth set.
The Rams jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fifth, highlighted by kills from Russo and junior outside Mackenzie Marquardt (Centereach, N.Y.), along with an ace from freshman defensive specialist Valerie Rios Santos (Bronx, N.Y.). Manhattanville battled back to 11-9, but kills from Russo and senior libero Allison Salinas (Glen Cove, N.Y.) helped FSC extend its lead. The Valiants scored four out of five points to make it 14-13 before Marquardt delivered the match-clinching kill to complete the 3-2 comeback win.
Wandmacher recorded a career-high 20 kills and six block assists, finishing with a match-high 26 points. Russo added 15 kills and 10 digs, while Marquardt contributed seven kills. Rende dished out 39 assists and recorded 15 digs, and Salinas led the Rams with 25 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Alana Henry (Amityville, N.Y.) added five kills, five total blocks and a service ace and Rios Santos contributed three kills and a career-best 14 digs in the victory.
Farmingdale State will next play host to Skyline Conference opponent Mount Saint Mary on Saturday, October 17th at noon.
