Rockville Centre, N.Y. - In a day recognizing the team's members of the senior class, all five members made significant contributions to the team's 3-1 victory over D'Youville University to close out the home schedule for 2025. After a slow start, the entire Lions' roster rallied to take the next three sets from the Saints, improving to 15-7 on the season and 8-1 in East Coast Conference play. The afternoon was highlighted by senior
Aria Miller toppling the program's career service ace record, one that has lasted a decade, with 152 career aces.
Before the contest began, the team honored seniors Miller (fine arts),
Ilaria Micol Chiericati (political science),
Keri Carlin (criminal justice),
Julia Zalta (healthcare administration), and
Teresa Moulder (biology) in a pre-game ceremony.
DYU 25, Molloy 20
Molloy 26, DYU 24
Molloy 24, DYU 14
Molloy 25, DYU 21
How it Happened
- The first set was a highly contested back-and-forth with the lead changing hands seven times until it was tied at 18. D'Youville was able to capitalize by taking seven of the final nine points to strike an early 1-0 lead.
- The back-and-forth continued into the second set with the score tied four times in the opening 12 points. From there, the visiting Saints exploded to an 18-8 advantage. With no time outs remaining, the Lions were sparked by a renewed energy in the line up and began to claw back with a 12-4 run to come within two, 22-20. Zalta, junior Erin Stanley, and sophomore Frankie Kelleher each had two kills in the run paired with a service ace from sophomore Julia Han.
- D'Youville sat at set point, 24-22, but a kill from Zalta and combination block between Stanley and Moulder had it at a whole new game at 24. Stanley downed the next two kills to give the Lions the improbably come-from-behind set victory and knot the contest 1-1.
- In the third set, it was Molloy's turn to go on a length run, putting together six-straight points that saw back-to-back aces from Carlin to lead 12-4.
- The Saints would come within seven, but Molloy's lead remained through the end of the set.
- The run continued into the fourth set with the Lions opening up to a 9-3 advantage. D'Youville strung together a comeback to come within one, 15-14, but was unable to overcome the initial lead, giving the set and match victory to the Lions.
Top Performances
- Miller added 13 digs to her two aces on the afternoon.
- Carlin and Han each also added two aces and combined for 10 digs with Han adding three kills.
- Stanley's 15 kills topped the score sheet and she added three blocks.
- Zalta followed with nine kills, three blocks, and four digs while leading with 23 assists.
- Kelleher followed with seven kills and two blocks.
- Moulder led with four blocks.
- Junior Hayden Riddle tallied 12 assists to go with six digs.
Up Next
Molloy will close out the regular season on the road beginning a trip to Rochester on Sunday (Nov. 9) for a 12:00 p.m. contest at Roberts Wesleyan University.
