Box Score Rockville Centre, N.Y. - The volleyball team survived a five-set marathon against the Mavericks, taking the game 3-2. Molloy improved to 13-12 on the contest and went 8-7 at home in 2024 while Mercy sits at 14-9 and 7-4 in East Coast Conference play. 

Molloy 25, Mercy 20
Mercy 25, Molloy 16
Molloy 26, Mercy 24
Mercy 25, Molloy 23
Molloy 15, Mercy 13

How it Happened

• The Lions open the contest on an 8-1 tear that saw aces from senior Julia Zalta and freshman Isabella Rios as well as two kills from junior Roberta Monticelli, two kills from graduate student Kiarra Roth, a kill from Rios, and blocks from Roth and junior Ilaria Micol Chiericati. 
• The Mavs would work the score within one on two occasions, 14-13 and 17-16, but Molloy would hold on to take the first set.
• In a reverse of the opening set, Mercy began the second with an 8-2 lead.
• The lead would increase to as much as nine, 17-8, en route to a set victory to tie the match.
• With the score tied 4-4 in the third, Molloy saw another ace from Rios, a kill from Monticelli, and a block from both Monticelli and Chiericati to pull ahead, 8-4.
• Mercy tied the contest at nine during a nine-point rally to put the visitors ahead, 13-10.
• Molloy remained within striking distance and the set would be tied at 21, 22, 23, and 24 until back-to-back kills from Roth and sophomore Erin Stanley gave the set victory to the Lions.
• The fourth set proved to be just as equally matched, featuring a tied score on nine occasions, including as late as 23-23. 
• A block and a service ace sent the set in favor of the Mavericks and sent the contest to a deciding set.
• Mercy would take an early 5-2 lead in the final set. Following a time out from Head Coach Brian Smith, the Lions responded with kills from Roth and Stanley as well as an ace from senior Megan Waghorn to tie the set at five.
• The score would be tied four more times, the latest being 11-11. 
• A kill and a block from Roth paired with a block from sophomore Ariana De Jesus put Molloy at match point, 14-11. The duo combined for another block to grant Molloy the victory.

Top Performances

• Roth led all players with 22 kills while adding three blocks.
• Monticelli tallied 11 kills, six digs, and three blocks.
• Stanley set a career-high with 10 kills and five blocks while adding two digs. 
• Sophomore Hope Carolan led with 16 digs and a career-high five service aces.
• De Jesus' eight blocks were good for top of the scoresheet as well as a career-high. 
• Chiericati's five blocks were also a career-high.
• Zalta led with 30 assists and added 11 digs for a double-double to go with three aces. Waghnore put up 18 assists and two aces.

Up Next
The Lions will conclude the 2024 campaign on the road at Saint Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday (Nov. 16) at 12:00 p.m. from Sparkill, N.Y.