Springfield, Mass. - The volleyball team dropped two contests this afternoon at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame East Region Clash, hosted by American International College. A tough afternoon included a 3-0 loss to both RV Bentley and the host Yellow Jackets to set the Lions at 6-4 on the season.

Game One: RV Bentley, Molloy 0
Bentley 25, Molloy 14
Bentley 25, Molloy 15
Bentley 25, Molloy 22

How it Happened

• The contest started with a back-and-forth feeling out period with no one able to take a lead of more than two points until the Falcons rattled of a streak of five-straight points to lead, 11-5.
• The Lions battled back to within two, 13-11, but that was as close as the team would come in set one.
• Kills from freshman Haven Trechter, junior Hayden Riddle, and seniors Ilaria Micol Chiericati and Teresa Moulder helped Molloy to a 6-5 lead to start the second set.
• Seven of the next eight points would go in favor of Bentley, who would maintain the advantage through the rest of the set.
• Trailing 11-5 in the third set, the cardinal and white rallied for eight of the next 10 points including three kills from Moulder, an ace and kill from graduate student Julia Zalta, a block from Trechter, and kills from junior Erin Stanley and sophomore Isabella Rios to knot the score at 13.
• Bentley quickly regained the lead by taking the next six points, including three service aces from Lulu Pavan. 
• Molloy threatened again late in the contest with two kills from Zalta and one from Trechter bringing the Lions within two, 25-22, but a kill from Aria Birdsong sealed the set and match for the Falcons

Top Performances

• Zalta led the team with seven kills, 13 assists, and four blocks. 
• Stanley and Chiericati both added four kills with Chiericati matching Zalta's four blocks.
• Riddle led with 11 digs and added 11 assists. 
• Rios and junior Hope Carolan each had six digs.

Game Two: AIC 3, Molloy 0
AIC 25, Molloy 19
AIC 25, Molloy 18
AIC 25, Molloy 14

How it Happened

• The Lions got things started on the right foot with kills from Rios, Stanley, and Moulder making it a 3-1 lead for Molloy.
• The home team responded with the next six points to lead 7-3.
• Kills from Chiericati and Stanley put the visitors right back in the thick of things and trailing by just one, 9-8.
• Six of the next seven points went to the Yellow Jackets, creating a lead they were able to maintain through the end of the set.
• Molloy once against started the second set with a 4-1 lead that AIC quickly equalized. The score would be tied five times before a 7-1 run put the home team in front with enough of a lead to take the set. 
• Despite an early exchange of points in set three, a seven-point run put AIC ahead 12-4 that they were able to maintain through to the victory.

Top Performances

• Stanley topped the Lions with 10 kills and two blocks.
• Trechter followed with four kills.
• Zalta's 14 assists and 10 digs paced the team while Carolan followed with nine digs.
• Zalta, Moulder, and Chiericati each added two blocks.

Up Next
Molloy will be right back at it from Springfield tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. against the University of Bridgeport for the second meeting in 10 days between the two teams.