Rockville Centre, NY- In a day recognizing the team's members of the senior class, both seniors made significant contributions in the teams 3-2 win over Daemen University to close out the home schedule for the 2026 season. With the win, the Lions sit at 10-12 (5-3 ECC), and the Wildcats drop to 11-10 (3-4 ECC).
Before the contest began, the team honored seniors
Erin Stanley (entertainment and sport management) and
Hayden Riddle (accounting) in a pre-game ceremony.
Molloy 25, Daemen 19
Daemen 26, Molloy 24
Molloy 25, Daemen 16
Daemen 25, Molloy 18
Molloy 16, Daemen 14
How it Happened
- A service ace from Audrey Johnson opened the afternoon for the Wildcats, but Riddle responded with two aces, while junior Isabella Rios added a kill and a service ace to give the Lions an early 6-2 advantage.
- Molloy extended its lead with a seven-point run highlighted by back-to-back kills from freshman Kailie Girard, another kill from Stanley, and two service aces from freshman Olivia Smith.
- Kills from Payton Gaylor and two service aces from Maddie Schamaun helped Daemen trim the deficit to six at 16-10.
- A 5-1 run brought the Wildcats within striking distance at 22-17, but kills from freshman Isabella Smith, sophomore Haven Trechter, and junior Franki Kelleher helped the Lions close out the set.
- The second set featured a much more competitive battle, with the score tied nine times. Two kills from Stanley, combined with a pair of Daemen attacking errors, gave Molloy a 17-15 lead.
- The visitors continued to put pressure on, forcing four more ties and evening the score at 24-24. Back-to-back service aces from Peyton Lowes secured the final two points for the Wildcats, leveling the match at one set apiece.
- The cardinal and white came out strong in the third set, with kills from freshman Peyton Douglas and Stanley, along with service aces from Riddle and Rios, fueling an 8-3 advantage.
- Molloy followed with another four-point run, featuring kills from Kelleher, Girard, and Trechter, to extend its lead to 12-4.
- The Lions maintained its momentum behind two more kills from Stanley, additional kills from Rios and Trechter, and another service ace from Riddle to claim the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
- Daemen struck first in the fourth set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead behind three consecutive kills from Etana Murray.
- The Wildcats maintained control throughout the set, with Molloy coming within two points on just four occasions. A five-point run, capped by back-to-back service aces from Schamaun, pushed Daemen's advantage to 24-16.
- The Lions capitalized on two Wildcats errors to extend the set, but an attacking error by Rios ultimately gave Daemen the set victory, tying the match at 2-2 and forcing a decisive fifth set.
- Molloy opened the final set with kills from Girard, Stanley, and Trechter, along with a service ace from Douglas, to take a 5-3 lead.
- Daemen responded to tie the score at 7-7, with kills from Faw and Gaylor and a service ace from Vera Tops.
- The teams continued to trade points, with the lead changing hands through five additional ties, culminating in a 14-14 deadlock.
- Trechter delivered a decisive kill before a Wildcats attacking error gave Molloy the final two points, securing a 3-2 match victory.
Top Performances
- Stanley led the Lions with a career-high 24 kills, adding four digs and three blocks.
- Riddle recorded a double-double with 25 assists and 12 digs while serving up four aces.
- Olivia Smith contributed 22 assists, two service aces, and three digs.
- Rios and Isabella Smith each tallied 13 digs. Rios also added six kills and three service aces.
- Douglas recorded three aces and four blocks.
- Girard contributed seven kills and two blocks.
Up Next
The Lions are on the road for the remainder of the regular season, starting with a game at Mercy on Friday (Oct. 30). First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.
