Springfield, Mass. - The volleyball team closed out the weekend at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame East Region Clash with a three-set victory over the University of Bridgeport from the campus of American International College. The victory, the Lions' second over the Purple Knights in a span of 10 days, sets the team at 7-4 headed into East Coast Conference play. UB fell to 1-9 with the loss.

Molloy 25, UB 19
Molloy 25, UB 13
Molloy 25, UB 15

How it Happened

• The teams exchanged points to open the match until back-to-back kills from senior Ilaria Micol Chiericati and sophomore Isabella Rios gave the Lions a 6-4 lead.
• Bridgeport would come within one twice, including 17-16, before Molloy fired off five-straight points on an ace and kill from Chiericati, a block from senior Teresa Moulder, and a kill from graduate student Julia Zalta to lead 22-16.
• Two kills from junior Erin Stanley and one from Moulder sealed the set for the Lions.
• The Molloy offense continued into the second set with Zalta opening the scoring with back-to-back scoring aces. 
• A kill from Cecilia Kowalski put the Purple Knights on the board, but the next four belonged to the Lions off kills from Rios and freshman Haven Trechter and blocks from Moulder and Stanley.
• The Lions' streak of lengthy runs continued throughout the set in stretches of five points, four points, and five points before taking the second set as well.
• Molloy opened the third set on a 7-0 run that saw three aces and a kill from Zalta, two kills from Stanley, and one from Rios.
• The early lead was too much for the Purple Knights to overcome, giving Molloy the victory. 

Top Performances

• Moulder and Stanley both led the Lions with 10 kills and four blocks.
• Trechter followed with eight kills while Zalta and Rios each had seven.
• Zalta matched a career-high seven aces to go with 22 assists and nine digs. 
• Junior Hayden Riddle followed with 14 assists.
• Rios joined Zalta with a team-leading nine digs with junior Hope Carolan following with six. 

Up Next
Molloy remains on the road and will start league play with a trip to Western New York. The Lions will face Daemen on Saturday (Sept. 27) at 1:00 p.m.