Rockville Centre, NY- The volleyball team completed a reverse sweep against St. Thomas Aquinas this evening at Bob Houlihan Court, rallying from an opening-set loss to win the next three in a row. With the win, the cardinal and white improve to 9-12 (4-3 ECC), and the Spartans drop to 7-12 (2-5 ECC).
St. Thomas Aquinas 25, Molloy 14
Molloy 25, St. Thomas Aquinas 21
Molloy 25, St. Thomas Aquinas 20
Molloy 25, St. Thomas Aquinas 21
How it Happened
- Although Molloy claimed the opening point on an attacking error, the Spartans quickly took control with a kill from Adriana Zarceno and a service ace from Dahiana Garcia Atuesta. The visitors continued to build its lead, capitalizing on several Molloy errors.
- Three kills from Amelie Gasche and another from Zarceno extended the Spartans' advantage to 16-9.
- Following a Molloy timeout, freshman Peyton Douglas and senior Erin Stanley delivered back-to-back kills.
- St. Thomas Aquinas responded with a 7-1 run to push its lead to 23-13.
- A service ace from junior Haven Trechter helped Molloy stay within reach, but kills from Bianca Bilc and Gasche secured the final two points for the Spartans to take the opening set.
- A service ace from Lelia Noboa Santos and a kill from Bilc gave St. Thomas Aquinas an early 6-2 advantage in the second set.
- Douglas answered with a service ace to cut the deficit to two, but consecutive kills from Greta Santini and a service ace from Stephanka Bicistova restored the visitors' four-point lead.
- Molloy continued to chip away at the deficit, pulling within two on six occasions before eventually tying the score and taking a 19-18 lead. Kills from Stanley and Trechter, followed by back-to-back kills from freshman Kailie Girard, helped put the Lions in front.
- Bilc helped the Spartans knot the score at 19, while a kill from Santini brought them within three at 24-21. However, Stanley delivered the set-clinching kill to even the match at one set apiece.
- The cardinal and white carried its momentum into the third set, opening with a 7-1 run fueled by back-to-back service aces from freshman Olivia Smith, another ace from Douglas, and kills from junior Franki Kelleher and Stanley.
- The Lions built a 10-point cushion behind Smith's third service ace of the set, while three St. Thomas Aquinas attacking errors further widened the gap.
- The Spartans gradually fought its way back, with Zarceno recording five kills to help cut the deficit to 24-20. Kelleher then delivered the decisive kill to secure the third set and give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
- The fourth set proved to be the most competitive of the match, featuring 14 ties as neither team managed to build a lead of more than two points.
- Kills from Kelleher and Girard, coupled with a St. Thomas Aquinas attacking error, helped Molloy pull ahead 19-16.
- Douglas and Stanley each added two kills, while Girard contributed another to help the Lions close out the set and complete the reverse sweep, securing the 3-1 victory.
Top Performances
- Stanley led the Lions offensively with 17 kills and two blocks, while Girard followed with 12 kills and two blocks.
- Douglas, Smith, and Trechter each recorded three service aces, with Trechter also contributing 10 digs.
- Riddle dished out a game-high 20 assists to go along with seven digs and a service ace.
- Kelleher contributed five kills and three blocks.
- Smith added 16 assists.
Up Next
The Lions return home on Saturday (Oct. 24) to host Daemen at 12:00 p.m., with a senior day ceremony set to take place before first serve.
