LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Sept. 17, 2016) - The return of senior right-side hitter Danielle Williams (Alba, Texas) coupled with another stellar showcase out of freshman setter Sophia Smith (Georgetown, Texas) propelled the Molloy College volleyball team to a five-set win over Bloomfield College on Saturday (Sept. 17) on the campus of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. The Lions were playing in a tri-match, however, and subsequently suffered a three-set sweep to the hosting Lions in the day's final match.

Molloy College 3, Bloomfield College 2 (25-23, 22-25, 16-25, 25-18, 15-13)
Making her first appearance of the season for the maroon and white, Williams led all players with 16 kills as the Lions battled through a tough Bears squad to win a five-set marathon. The senior right-side hitter contributed nine digs while Smith notched another double-double (48 assists, 17 digs) in the team's victory. Freshman Shannon Wren (Lynbrook, N.Y.) continued to play strongly with a 14-kill performance and an astounding .361 hitting percentage; fellow rookies Hailey Wehr (Wading River, N.Y.) and Devon Hagerstrom (Bethpage, N.Y.) each collected ten kills in the win. The defensive specialists ruled much of the back row roost for Molloy as Dakota O'Neill (Long Beach, N.Y.) collected 14 digs with an additional 11 digs coming from sophomore Meaghan Carr (Mineola, N.Y.). Carr led the team with four service aces while sophomore outside hitter Jeanne Reinis (La Mirada, Calif.) also posted a solid performance with seven kills and nine digs.

Bloomfield was led by a 14-kill, 13-dig effort from freshman Danielle Quintanar (El Paso, Texas) but the Bears' 6-2 offense could not muster enough points to take the victory. Setters Caitlyn Naylor (Tacoma, Wa.) and Jacquelyn Madlock (Alta Loma, Calif.) posted 19 and 24 assists, respectively, while libero Samantha Rios (Juncos, Puerto Rico) had a match-best 24 digs in the back row.

Georgian Court University 3, Molloy College 0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-17)
Wren and Williams contributed a majority of the points for the maroon and white in the three-set defeat, with the freshman netting a team-high and match-best 11 kills on a .300 hitting percentage. Williams notched an eight-kill, nine-dig performance but Molloy was silenced on the attacking front otherwise. Smith collected 22 assists, Carr had 14 digs and Hagerstrom amassed seven blocks (two solo, five assisted). Peggy Rosario (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) and Kathryn vonKampen (Connetquot, N.Y.) each had ten kills for Georgian Court in the win.

Molloy will return home on Tuesday (Sept. 20) following a long road trip; unfortunately for the Lions, the reigning top-seed of the NCAA East Region will greet them at Quealy Gymnasium. The Lions will host Adelphi University with first serve set for 6 p.m.