Rockville Centre, N.Y. – For the second time in three years, the volleyball team finished the season as East Coast Conference regular season champions and enter this evening's tournament as the top-seed and host. Molloy will take on #4 Mercy College at 5:00 p.m. in Quealy Gymnasium.
On the Lions
- Molloy ran the table in league play in 2019, ending the regular season with a flawless 10-0 record while giving up just five sets. This is the first time since the 2014 season that a team has had an undefeated record in conference play.
- On the season, the Lions established a 23-4 record, entering the ECC Tournament on an eight-game winning streak and an 11-1 record in games played in Rockville Centre.
- The maroon and white are led by junior Kacey Affrunti, who leads the team in kills (299), kills per set (3.32), hitting percentage (.300), and aces (55). The middle blocker also tops the nation in aces per set and ranks eighth in total aces.
- The offense is supported by redshirt senior Carly Banks. Banks, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the ECC Tournament the last time Molloy hosted, enters this evening 30 kills shy of setting the program's career kills record at 1271.
- Senior libero Jessica Fischetti eclipsed 1000 career digs on Sept. 13 against Rollins. She enters tonight's contest at 1,394. Fellow senior Sophia Smith has topped 4000 assists and 1000 digs in her final season in maroon and white.
- Molloy swept the ECC major awards, with Affrunti being named Player of the Year, Smith earning Setter of the Year, Fischetti being selected as Libero of the Year, freshman Chye Davis being recognized as Rookie of the Year and head coach Kevin DesLauriers earning Co-Coach of the Year. Affrunti, Smith, and Fischetti also were named to the All-ECC First Team while Banks and senior Hailey Wehr earned Second Team selections.
Concerning Mercy
- The Mavericks return to the ECC Tournament for the first time since 2008 and are in search of the program's first title since 2001.
- Mercy is led by senior Imani DeBose, who tops the league with 375 kills (3.47 per set). Sophomore Loreto Nunez Casal ranks fourth in the league with 282 kills.
- Defensively, junior Adriana Lopez-Soto leads the. Team (second ECC) with 445 digs, including scoring the 1000th of her career to end the regular season.
- Molloy is on a seven-game winning streak against the Mavericks, most recently defeating the team 3-1 on Nov. 5. With games played in Rockville Centre, the Lions hold a 15-6 record over Mercy.
If the Lions advance to the finals, the maroon and white will take on the winner of #2 Bridgeport and #3 Mercy on Saturday (Nov. 23) at 7:00 p.m.
