Molloy University Athletics

Amherst, NY- The volleyball team closed out the 2026 regular season, falling 3-1 to Daemen this morning. The Lions head into the post season with an 11-16 record, going 6-6 in league play and will be the four-seed in the East Coast Conference Championship tournament. Daemen improved to 15-10 over and 7-4 in conference action.

Daemen 25, Molloy 23
Molloy 25, Daemen 21
Daemen 25, Molloy 21
Daemen 25, Molloy 21
 
How it Happened

• Daemen opened the match with back-to-back kills from Mina Faw to take an early lead.
• Kills from senior Erin Stanley, freshman Kailie Girard, and junior Isabella Rios kept Molloy within striking distance.
• The Wildcats began to pull away, capitalizing on three consecutive Molloy errors to build an 18-13 advantage.
• The Lions battled back, cutting the deficit to one at 23-22 featuring a kill from Stanley. However kills from Faw and Avery Craig would secure the opening set for Daemen.
• Molloy came out strong in the second set, using back-to-back service aces from senior Hayden Riddle and consecutive kills from Stanley to take a 5-2 lead.
• After four ties, the Lions gained momentum with a four-point run to establish a 20-14 advantage.
• Daemen responded with four unanswered points, highlighted by a kill and an ace from Craig.
• The cardinal and white regained control as sophomore Haven Trechter, junior Franki Kelleher, and Girard each recorded kills, while freshman Isabella Smith added an ace to even the match at one set apiece.
• Freshman Peyton Douglas opened the third set with a kill, but Daemen answered with an ace from Audrey Johnson and back-to-back kills from Jolie Faw to take a 4-1 lead.
• The teams traded points throughout a competitive set, tying the score six times before a 7-2 Daemen run gave the Wildcats a 19-14 advantage.
• The Lions chipped away at the deficit, capitalizing on Daemen errors to pull within one at 21-20, but kills from M. Faw and service aces from Johnson and Olivia Urbon helped the Wildcats take a 2-1 match lead.
• Daemen carried its momentum into the fourth set, opening with another 4-1 advantage.
• Kills from Trechter and Rios kept Molloy within reach before a 10-2 run extended the Wildcats' lead to 17-8.
• Daemen continued to build its advantage, with kills from Payton Gaylor and Johnson, along with three Molloy attacking errors, giving the home team a 23-12 lead.
• The Lions mounted a late comeback with eight consecutive points. Kills from Girard, Kelleher, and Rios, along with an ace from Trechter, brought Molloy within three at 23-20.
• Another kill from Rios kept Molloy alive, but Gaylor answered with the match-clinching kill to secure the 3-1 victory for Daemen.

Top Performances

• Stanley paced the Lions offensively with 14 kills, adding two blocks and three digs.
• Girard followed with 11 kills and four digs.
• Riddle recorded 20 assists, along with nine digs and two aces.
• Freshman Olivia Smith contributed 17 assists, an ace, and eight digs.
• Isabella Smith led the back line with 22 digs, adding an ace.
• Kelleher tallied three blocks (1 solo, 2 assisted), seven kills, and five digs.

Up Next
Fouth-seeded Molloy will take on first-seeded Mercy in the semifinal round of the East Coast Conference Championship on Friday (Nov. 13) from Dobbs Ferry, NY.