Molloy University Athletics

Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 23, 2014) - The Molloy College women's volleyball squad battled till the end, but fell in a heartbreaker to conference-foe LIU Post in five sets. With the win, the East Coast Conference preseason-favorite Pioneers improve to 14-11 overall and 9-4 inside the conference. The Lions dropped to 10-13 overall and 5-7 in the ECC. They also remain two games back for the fourth and final ECC postseason spot.
 
The match went the distance with the Pioneers winning the first set, 25-22, third set, 25-22, and the fifth set, 15-9. Molloy grabbed the second and fourth sets (25-23, 25-17).
 
A tight first set had the Pioneers on top for the majority of the match. A kill by sophomore Ally De Kruyf (Norwalk, Calif.) and an attack error by LIU Post gave the Lions their largest lead of the set 6-4. Molloy trailed as much as five points before a 5-0 run tied the set at 17-17. The Pioneers would never relinquish the lead for a 25-22 victory.
 
In the second, Molloy trailed by three points multiple times. The Lions' seniors contributed via a kill from Sam Berna (Massapequa, N.Y.) to tie the set, and via Shannon Appel's (Rockaway Park, N.Y.) service ace for a 15-14 lead. The Pioneers tied the score three more times prior to a 4-0 run with two kills by Melissa Hansen that put LIU Post ahead, 22-20. From there, a service error, attack error and kills by Berna and junior Danielle Williams (Alba, Texas) brought the Lions within the set point. Another lefty attack by D. Williams clinched set two for Molloy, 25-23.
 
In the third set, the Pioneers took an early four-point lead up 9-5. After a De Kruyf kill, Berna's serves contributed to an 8-0 run and a 13-9 advantage. LIU Post scored five of the next six points to tie the set at 14-14.  The Pioneers' 4-0 run was responded to by Molloy's 4-1 rally to regain a 21-20 lead. LIU Post rattled off five of the final six points for the third set victory, 25-22. 
 
The Lions led the entire fourth set, started by a 5-0 run.  D. Williams contributed the final three points to force a fifth set for Molloy. Molloy hit a .341 clip in the fourth set, its best of the match.
 
LIU Post started quickly in the final set. A service ace, four kills and three Molloy attack errors put the Pioneers up, 8-3, when the teams switched sides. Three Pioneer errors and a Berna kill contributed to a 4-0 run to cut the Lions' deficit to 11-8. However, LIU Post would end the match due to three Molloy attack errors, a kill of its own and a 4-1 rally for a 15-9 win.
 
D. Williams, added 15 kills to her season-leading total. Berna recorded 13 kills tonight, while sophomore Grace Cookson (San Diego, Calif.) had eight. De Kruyf was credited with 40 assists and 13 digs. Freshman libero Samira Escobar (Fountain Valley, Calif.) led Molloy with 17 digs.
 
Head Coach Billy Corrao and his squad return to action Saturday for non-conference play. The Lions travel to New Haven, Connecticut as part of a tri-match with Southern Connecticut State University and Merrimack College. They will play at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.