Amherst, N.Y. - It would take five sets to determine a winner this afternoon as the volleyball team fell to Daemen University, 3-2, from Lumsden Gymnasium. The victory moves Daemen (15-6, 7-2 ECC) into first place in the East Coast Conference while Molloy sits at 12-11 and 3-6 in league play.

How it Happened

• An early four-point run from the Wildcats put Daemen in front, 5-3.
• Molloy would remain within striking distance, taking a 24-22 lead after blocks from graduate student Kiarra Roth and junior Sara Hiebert.
• The home team would respond twice, knotting the score at both 24 and 25, but the Lions would strike first, scoring the final two points of the set.
• Molloy took five of the first seven points of the second set, including service aces from senior Julia Zalta and sophomore Hope Carolan.
• From there, however, the Wildcats would go on a 10-2 run to lead, 12-7. A second lengthy run would improve the lead to 21-12.
• The Lions responded with an 8-2 run that saw three kills from freshman Isabella Rios to come within three, 23-20.
• Daemen would take the final two points to take the second set and tie the match.
• Like the second set, the beginning of the third belonged to the Lions, leading 6-1 with three kills from Roth.
• Daemen was able to chip away at the lead before pulling ahead 12-8 following a streak of six-straight points.
• Molloy would come within one on five different occasions, but was unable to regain the lead.
• Both teams exchanged runs in the fourth set before finding themselves tied at 15-15. Roth and Hiebert each tallied two kills during a 7-1 run  from the Lions that would set the score at 22-16.
• Daemen would come within two on two occasions, but a kill from Roth would seal the set in favor of the visitors and force a deciding set.
• The set would be tied on six occasions, including as late as 8-8. Daemen took advantage of a four-point streak to jump ahead, 11-8.
• Molloy would come within two, but the home team would pull out the match victory.

Top Performances

• Roth topped the contest with 20 kills, adding 19 digs for a double-double to go with five blocks, two assists, and two aces.
• Hiebert and Rios both reached double digits with 10 kills . Rios added three aces and 18 digs. Hiebert matched a career-high with seven blocks.
• Zalta and Carolan each totaled 13 digs with Zalta adding 37 assists and a team-high five aces.

Up Next
The Lions return to Rockville Centre on Saturday (Nov. 9) against Roberts Wesleyan at 12:00 p.m. Molloy will celebrate the careers of its graduating class: Angelina Scichilone, Sara Hiebert, Roberta Monticelli, Megan Waghorn, Kiarra Roth, Rebecca Meier, and Alex Brown in a pre-game ceremony.