Waltham, Mass. - The fourth time would not be the charm for the volleyball team against the Mavericks of Mercy University. The Lions, who earned the six-seed for the NCAA East Regional Tournament, had a 2-1 lead over the third-seeded Mavericks in the contest, but were unable to pick up the victory to advance to the Regional Semifinal. Molloy's season ends with a record of 18-10. 

Molloy 25, Mercy 22
Mercy 25, Molloy 17
Molloy 27, Mercy 25
Mercy 25, Molloy 20
Mercy 15, Molloy 8

How it Happened

• The Lions opened the contest with a 4-1 lead following service aces from graduate student Julia Zalta and sophomore Isabella Rios. 
• Mercy would later respond with a three-point rally to take a 7-6 lead.
• In total, the lead would exchange hands four times in the opening set, including an 11-2 run from Molloy to go in front, 24-20. In the run, senior Ilaria Micol Chiericati would add two aces, two kills, an an assist. 
• A kill from Zalta sealed the opening set in favor of Molloy.
• Mirroring the first set, it would then be the Mavericks' turn to open with a lengthy rally, taking a 5-1 lead. 
• A scrappy 6-1 response from the Lions further into the set would give them a 10-9 lead. 
• From there, the score would be tied three times before a 10-3 lead sealed the second set for Mercy. 
• The score would be tied 11 times in a back-and-forth third set, but the Lions were able to record the final three-straight points on a block from junior Erin Stanley and senior Teresa Moulder, a kill from freshman Haven Trechter, and a service ace from junior Aria Miller to take the victory headed into the fourth set.
• Mercy would score the first three points of the first set, forcing the Lions to play catch up. Molloy would eventually knot the score at 11, but the Mavericks responded with a six-point rally that put them in control through the end of the set, forcing a final and deciding set. 
• The score would once again change hands four times in the abbreviated fifth set. Neither team led by more than two points until Mercy came to life with a seven-point rally that proved to be the nail in the coffin for the Lions' season. 

Top Performances

• Stanley led Molloy with 14 kills. Zalta (13) and Rios (10) both followed in double digits. 
• The pair of Zalta (18 assists) and Rios (10 digs) each had a double-double on the afternoon. 
• In her final collegiate match, Zalta also added seven digs, two service aces, and two blocks. 
• Mouolder led the Lions with six blocks in her final match, adding four kills. 
• Junior Hayden Riddle topped the team with 19 assists and added six digs and an ace. 
• Chiericati led with three aces and put up three blocks and three digs. 
• Rios also added four blocks to her stat line on the afternoon.
• Senior Aria Miller recorded eight digs to go with two aces and a kill. 
• Trechter led the back line with 11 digs.