Pleasantville, N.Y. - The volleyball team took to the road for the first time in 2025 and came up just short against the Setters of Pace University this evening from the Goldstein Fitness Center. Despite keeping it close in all three sets, the Lions were swept to fall to 6-2 on the season. Pace improved to 5-1 with the victory.

Pace 28, Molloy 26
Pace 25, Molloy 21
Pace 27, Molloy 25

How it Happened

• The home team opened up strong with a 7-0 run that included two aces.
• The Lions chipped away at the early deficit as the set went on and were able to come within two, 16-14, following a five-point run with two aces from freshman Haven Trechter, and blocks from both Trechter and senior Ilaria Micol Chiericati, who also added a kill.
• A second run of four-straight points gave the cardinal and white the first lead of the evening, 19-18 with kills from graduate student Julia Zalta and sophomore Isabella Rios. 
• The score would be tied six times down the stretch until back-to-back points from the Setters gave the home team the necessary two-point lead to take the set.
• The back-and-forth nature continued into the start of the second set with the score knotted six times before four-straight points from Pace put them ahead 12-7.
• Molloy responded by taking six of the next seven to once again tie the contest at 13. The run saw kills from junior Erin Stanley, Trechter, and Chiericati to go with an ace from Rios.
• Four more ties brought the score to 16 all before the next three points went in favor of the Setters, who hung on to that advantage through the rest of the set.
• The start of the third set saw a run for the visiting Lions, who went ahead 10-4 with aces from both Rios and Zalta.
• Molloy remained in the driver's seat for the majority of the set until Pace strung together five points to lead, 21-20.
• Once again the teams found themselves tied five times, but a kill from Cyanna Shirley and ace from Aralyn Saulys sealed the match for the home team with the required two-point lead.

Top Performances

• Trechter led the Lions with 14 kills and added eight digs and two aces to go with a career-high three blocks.
• Stanley followed with 11 kills to go with two blocks.
• Chiericati's five blocks led the Lions' defense with senior Aria Miller (20), Rios (15), and Zalta (13) each reaching double digit dig totals.
• Zalta added 21 assists for a double-double to go with two blocks. 
• Senior Teresa Moulder also added three blocks in the effort.
• Junior Hayden Riddle tallied 10 assists to go with five digs and an ace.

Up Next
The Lions head to Springfield, Mass. for the 2025 International Volleyball Hall of Fame East Region Clash this weekend. Molloy's first match will be against Bentley on Friday (Sept. 19) at 3:30 p.m.