Rockville Centre, N.Y. - The top-seeded volleyball team set a program-record 27 wins with a five-set victory over #4 Saint Anselm College in the semifinal round of the NCAA East Regional Tournament. The Lions will face off against fellow East Coast Conference school, #3 University of Bridgeport, tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. from Quealy Gymnasium for the East Regional Championship and the opportunity to represent the East Region and the National Championship Tournament. 

Molloy 25, Saint Anselm 15
Saint Anselm 25, Molloy 23
Molloy 25, Saint Anselm 20
Saint Anselm 25, Molloy 15
Molloy 15, Saint Anselm 12


How it Happened

• A seven-point run, featuring four kills and one block from junior Kacey Affrunti, gave Molloy a 13-5 lead.
• The Hawks would come within four, 15-11, before the maroon and white took the first set by 10, 25-15. 
• Saint Anselm took a 6-3 lead to start the second set. 
• The score would be knotted 10 times throughout the remainder of the set, but the visitors would maintain a lead to knot the match score, 1-1.
• The third set saw the Lions jump out to another 13-5 lead. St. A's would come within two, 17-15, but four kills from senior Hailey Wehr down the stretch sealed the set in favor of the maroon and white. 
• Saint Anselm attacked at a .371 clip in the fourth set, holding Molloy to just nine kills to force a fifth and deciding set. 
• The maroon and white took a 6-3 lead in the final set before the Hawks came within one, 7-6. 
• Four-straight points put Molloy in front, 11-6. 
• The contest would end with two kills from Wehr and one each from both redshirt senior Carly Banks and freshman Chye Davis. 

Top Performances

• Affrunti led the Lions with 20 kills. The middle hitter added 10 blocks for her first career double-double.
• Senior Sophia Smith also notched a double-double with 50 assists and 13 digs to go with eight kills and four blocks. 
• Wehr added 17 kills in the effort. 
• Senior Jessica Fischetti tallied 22 digs and six assists while sophomore Kathleen Doherty added 21, freshman Brynne Winkelman added 12, and junior Allie Lackner added 11 digs.