Amherst, N.Y. - For just the second time in program-history, the volleyball team topped the Wildcats of Daemen University, 3-1, from the floor of Lumsden Gymnasium. The only previous time the Lions defeated Daemen on their home court was in 2019, the year that saw Molloy's NCAA East Regional Championship win. The victory also snaps an 11-game losing streak against Daemen. 

Molloy improved to 8-4 on the season and opened East Coast Conference play at 1-0 while Daemen sits at 4-8 (0-1 ECC). 

Daemen 25, Molloy 21
Molloy 25, Daemen 15
Molloy 25, Daemen 14
Molloy 25, Daemen 16

How it Happened

• The Wildcats led open to close in the first set. Molloy would come within one on two occasions.
• The Lions responded by going in front, 5-2, in the second set on kills from sophomore Isabella Rios, junior Erin Stanley, and senior Teresa Moulder.
• Midway through the set, a seven-point run sealed the victory for Molloy. In the stretch, Moulder had two blocks and a kill, and Stanley and freshman Haven Trechter both had a block and a kill to make it 21-10.
• Kills from Stanley, graduate student Julia Zalta, and senior Ilaria Micol Chiericati closed out the set victory for the Lions. 
• The Lions pulled in front quickly once again in the third set with two aces from senior Aria Miller and a kill from both Moulder and Chiericati.
• The score would be tied, 6-6, before a five-point run put Molloy ahead on kills from Zalta and Rios as well as an ace from Trechter and blocks from Zalta and Chiericati. 
• The visitors closed the contest with four-straight points on kills from Trechter and Zalta, an ace from Trechter, and blocks from both Zalta and junior Hayden Riddle. 
• The score would be tied four times to start the fourth set before the Lions took six of seven points to lead 14-9. Rios and Moulder each tacked on two kills in the stretch to go with one from Zalta. 
• Daemen would come within three, 14-11, before nine of the next 11 points went in favor of Molloy to make it 23-13.
• Kills from Zalta and Rios sealed the victory for the Lions. 

Top Performances

• Stanley topped the Lions with 14 kills and added two blocks.
• Zalta notched her first career triple-double with 19 assists, 13 kills, and 10 digs while also putting up two blocks. 
• Rios had a double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs while adding four assists.
• Riddle led with 21 assists.
• Miller matched Rios' 16 digs while serving two aces to go with six assists.
• Chiericati and Trechter both had two aces. 

Up Next
Molloy remains on the road and will be back in action tomorrow (Sept. 28) at 11:00 a.m. against D'Youville from Buffalo, N.Y.