ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Sept. 3, 2016) - The Molloy College volleyball team was unable to defend its homecourt on Saturday (Sept. 3) as the Lions dropped a four-set match to Le Moyne and a three-set sweep to Post University in the final day of the Long Island Invitational, held at Quealy Gymnasium.
Game One: Le Moyne 3, Molloy 1 (25-15, 24-26, 25-17, 25-16)
For Molloy (0-3), freshman middle hitter
Devon Hagerstrom (Bethpage, N.Y.) collected ten kills in the match and fellow freshman
Hailey Wehr (Wading River, N.Y.) added seven kills to help the offense. But the Lions were undone by 18 errors on service receptions, as Le Moyne (3-0) struck for 18 aces---nine of which came off of the jump serve of match star Natalie Casson (Kingman, Ariz.). Casson had a match-high 18 kills on a .371 hitting percentage while middle blocker Anna Hafoka (Hurst, Texas) struck for a superb .476 hitting clip and 12 kills for the Dolphins.
Freshman setter
Sophia Smith (Georgetown, Texas) continued her impressive start to play this season with 25 assists and junior libero
Dakota O'Neill (Long Beach, Calif.) added a team-high 13 digs.
Game Two: Post 3, Molloy 0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-21)
The Lions fell to 0-4 on the season and were bested by a team that has made the last two NCAA Tournaments and is the defending champions of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Smith posted a double-double with 21 assists and 15 digs while O'Neill also collected 15 digs on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive specialists
Jessica Fischetti (Seaford, N.Y.) and
Meaghan Carr (Mineola, N.Y.) each had eight digs for the Lions, as well. Meanwhile, the offense was led by a spread-out attack as sophomore
Jeanne Reinis (La Mirada, Calif.) struck for a team-high eight kills.
As in the last match, the service reception game doomed the maroon and white; the Eagles notched ten service aces against Molloy. Freshman outside hitter Shannon Veale (Toms River, N.J.) had a breakout performance---hitting over .700 for a majority of the match---before settling to a match-best 14 kills. Middle blocker Skylar German (Kansas City, Mo.) had 11 kills and was one of four players from Post with double-digit dig totals. Sisters Morgan and Hailey Griffin (Plainfield, Conn.) combined for 17 kills and 25 digs in a defensive clinic as libero Sarah Ryder (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) contributed greatly with 17 digs in the back row. Sophomore setter Brianna Root (Bristol, Conn.) also dished out 38 assists for the Eagles in the win.
Molloy will travel to Caldwell University for a 7 p.m. contest with the Cougars on Wednesday (Sept. 7). Check with www.MolloyLions.com for the latest up-to-date scores and stats for your Molloy Lions.
