Eastern University Volleyball cruised to an efficient three-set win over the visiting Manhattanville College Valiants in Freedom Conference action Tuesday night. With the win, the Eagles secure a spot in the Freedom Conference Playoffs.

Without Kearby Benak in the lineup, the Eagles were forced to juggle line-ups. Eastern was able to make a quick adjustment to being without a top outside option as setters Amy Guarino and Rikki Schlager got middle hitter Katrina Pisch involved early. Pisch finished the opening set with six kills and the Eagles cruised to a 25-11 win in the first set.

The second set featured more of the same as Eastern's overpowering service game put the Valiants on the defensive from the start. Though the Valiants entered this evening's match leading the Freedom Conference with nearly three aces a set, it was the Eastern service game that made the difference in a 25-12 second set win. Guarino and Schlager moved the Manhattanville serve receive up and back and put together big offensive runs to seize control of the set. While the service game was solid in the second set, the Eagles struggled in the attack with five errors and only nine kills.

Eastern finished the match with an offensive flurry. A high level of hitting efficiency helped the Eagles take the third set 25-12 despite some scrappy defense from the visitors. Several strong kills from Erin Hillman and Lauren Sproles and a couple clever tips from Guarino stood as highlights in the third set. Guarino set the entire third set and finished the match with 22 assists to go with five kills.

Pisch finished with a match-best 11 kills and Sproles added seven kills on only 14 attacks. Hillman also hit .500 with eight kills. Kelly Groff finished the match with 13 digs.

The Eagles have not dropped a set to a league opponent since joining the Freedom Conference in 2008.

Eastern returns to action this Saturday for a pair of games in the MAC Crossover Challenge at Messiah College.

Box Score