Box Score
Photo Gallery (More To Come)
WATCH: Championship Point
WATCH: Postgame Interviews (Smith, Pinzon & Coach Gaiser)
 
KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 6, 2021) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's volleyball team won the Skyline Conference Championship on Saturday night with an exciting sweep of visiting Manhattanville, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19. The Mariners (22-3) have earned the Skyline's automatic qualifying bid to the 2021 NCAA National Championship Tournament, which will begin next weekend.
 
Junior Paige Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.) was named the Skyline Tournament Most Outstanding Player after her double-double performance with 10 kills and 15 digs. Seniors Taylor Gilbertson (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Brittney Pinzon (Fullerton, Calif.) also had double-doubles on the night, as Gilbertson tied for the match-high with 12 kills, while picking up 11 digs and Pinzon had 19 assists and 12 digs.
 
Junior Claire Hyun (Issaquah, Wash.) just missed out on a double-double, as she dished out 16 assists and picked up 12 digs, and senior Shelby Bowman (Redmond, Wash.) recorded a match-high 17 digs. The Mariners also picked up 10 assisted blocks (five total) on the night, with senior Juliet Vendl (Colorado Springs, Colo.) leading all players with four.
 
To view a photo gallery of the postgame celebration (with more to come of the entire match), click here. To watch Championship Point and the celebration as it was posted live from our Facebook page, follow this link. And you can view our postgame interviews with Smith, Pinzon and head coach Tim Gaiser at this link.
 
For Manhattanville (18-7), senior Alejandra Figueroa tied Gilbertson for the match-high with 12 kills, while also picking up 14 digs. Junior setter Vianca Vital registered a match-best 32 assists and also had a double-double with 12 digs and senior Militza De Hostos Gonzalez picked up 12 digs as well.
 
The Mariners will find out where they are heading in the NCAA Tournament on Monday, Nov. 8, during a Selection Show on NCAA.com. For more information on the Selection Show, follow this link.
 
Receive USMMA Women's Volleyball News Right To Your E-Mail!
If you would like to receive all the latest news on the USMMA women's volleyball team (or any other team at the Academy), including all press releases, delivered directly to your inbox, fill out this form.
 
Follow USMMA Athletics On Social Media!
Be sure to follow USMMA Athletics on social media to get up-to-the-minute updates on your favorite teams! Start following today on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!