Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - The 2025 regular season for East Coast Conference volleyball came down to the final match between Molloy and Mercy at the Neil Judge Athletic Center to determine the top-seed and hosting rights for next week's ECC Championship. Despite pushing to a fifth and deciding set, the Lions were unable to prevail and fell 3-2. Molloy heads into the postseason with a 17-8 record, going 10-2 in league play and will be the two-seed. Mercy improved to 18-4 and went 11-1 in league play.

Mercy 25, Molloy 20
Molloy 25, Mercy 21
Molloy 25, Mercy 23
Mercy 29, Molloy 27
Mercy 15, Molloy 10

How it Happened

• The lead would change hands seven times in the first set.
• Neither side pulled ahead with a significantly lengthy rally until Molloy fired off five-straight points with kills from senior Teresa Moulder and freshman Haven Trechter to lead 17-14.
• The Mavericks responded by taking eight of the next nine to lead, 22-18. 
• The Lions would score the next two points but Mercy retained the lead and took the first set.
• The visitors responded by opening the second set with a 7-1 run that saw two kills from Moulder and two from junior Erin Stanley. 
• Mercy would come within one twice late in the set, 20-19 and later 22-21, but kills from Trechter and sophomore Isabella Rios helped the Lions clinch the final three points needed to take the set.
• The score would be tied six times through the first 14 points of the third set before a 7-1 run put Molloy ahead, 14-8. 
• The home team clawed back to tie the contest at 23 before back-to-back kills from Trechter gave the Lions a 2-1 set advantage.
• The Mavericks had a 22-18 lead deep in the fourth set . Molloy would take the next five-straight points on two kills and a block from Rios to go with a service ace from graduate student Julia Zalta, giving the Lions the lead for the first time since the opening point of the set.
• The next two points would go to Mercy, establishing set point. Twice, Molloy would force a tie before going ahead, 26-25 on a kill from Stanley. 
• It was then Mercy's turn to tie and set up set point at 27-26. A kill from Stanley tied the contest again to keep Molloy alive, but back-to-back kills from the Mavericks sent the match to a fifth set.
• The first two points of the fifth set would land in favor of Molloy, but Mercy would rally to take the next five-straight for a comfortable 5-2 lead.
• Molloy would come within one, 6-5, but would ultimately be unable to overcome the fire power of the Mavericks, who recorded a kill for10 of the needed 15 points to take the set and the match.

Top Performances

• Rios topped the Lions with a season-high 14 kills, adding 10 digs for a double-double to go with two blocks, two assists, and an ace.
• Stanley followed with 13 kills and matched a career-high six blocks. 
• Moulder also set a career-high six blocks in the effort and added 11 kills. 
• Trechter's 10 kills rounded out the top scorers for Molloy.
• Zalta also recorded a double-double with 28 assists and 12 digs to go with two blocks and a team-leading three service aces. 
• Senior Aria Miller led with 26 digs while junior Hayden Riddle added 14 assists. 

Up Next
Second-seeded Molloy will take on third-seeded Daemen in the semifinal round of the East Coast Conference Championship on Friday (Nov. 21) at 7:00 p.m. from Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.