Springfield, MA - The volleyball team spent the weekend at the annual International Volleyball Hall of Fame East Region Clash, hosted by American International College, finishing 1-3 against some of the region's toughest opponents. Molloy concludes the weekend with an overall season record of 3-7.
Game One: Molloy 3, Bridgeport 1
Molloy 25, UB 22
UB 30, Molloy 28
Molloy 25, UB 21
Molloy 25, UB 13
How it Happened
- The weekend started off on a high note with a victory over the University of Bridgeport (2-3). Despite falling in a competitive second set, the Lions outpaced the Purple Knights in nearly every category, putting up 62 kills, 10 service aces, 60 assists, and 88 digs as a team.
- Lengthy rallies were a consistent theme throughout the match, including a stretch of seven unanswered points for Molloy. The Purple Knights put together runs of their own, but the Lions' offense consistently found ways to respond, with the exception of a 4-1 UB run that ultimately gave them the second set.
- Molloy's offense was led by 17 kills apiece from senior Erin Stanley and freshman Kailie Girard, marking a career-best for the rookie.
- Junior Franki Kelleher followed with 12 kills while freshman Peyton Douglas had a career-best eight.
- All four hitters attacked at a clip above .200, led by Kelleher's .600 hitting percentage from the middle.
- Senior Hayden Riddle notched her second double-double of the season with 23 assists and a team-leading 17 digs, adding a career-high five service aces.
- Freshman Olivia Smith also had a double-double, the first of her career, with a career-best 25 assists and 10 digs.
- Freshmen Isabella Smith (16) and Emma Kappaz (14) as well as junior Isabella Rios (11) all reached double digit digs with Smith adding nine assists, narrowly miss a double-double.
Game Two: AIC 3, Molloy 0
AIC 25, Molloy 21
AIC 25, Molloy 12
AIC 25, Molloy 12
How it Happened
- The Lions' young roster struggled against a battle-tested American International College (10-0) squad that entered the match having dropped just two sets all season.
- Molloy started strong with back-to-back service aces from Riddle. Later, a six-point run saw three aces from Olivia Smith, a kill from Douglas, and blocks from both Douglas and Kappaz to put the Lions ahead, 12-8.
- From there, however, the offense belonged nearly entirely to the Yellow Jackets with Molloy only able to score consecutive points three times through the remainder of the contest.
- Stanley's nine kills paced the team followed by six from Girard.
- Riddle and Olivia Smith each had three aces and combined for 17 assists.
- Rios led with six digs.
Game Three: Felician 3, Molloy 2
Felician 25, Molloy 15
Molloy 25, Felician 20
Felician 25, Molloy 12
Molloy 25, Felician 16
Felician 15, Molloy 12
How it Happened
- The first match of the second day featured flashes of dominance and inconsistency in a true back-and-forth battle with the Golden Falcons. (6-3). The teams were nearly even across the statistical categories, with Felician's 13 service aces providing the most significant difference.
- A 5-0 run from the Golden Falcons opened the match with a pace that Molloy was unable to overcome. The Lions would rally to knot the score four times, but two runs of six and seven points overpowered the attempts.
- Conversely, Molloy saw a dominant eight-point run that featured two kills from Douglas, one from Girard, and two aces from Kappaz midway through the second set to put the Lions in the driver's seat for the remainder of the set.
- The back-and-forth nature continued into a fifth and deciding set that was forced following a 5-1 run from the Lions to close out set four.
- The score would be tied five times in set five, including 12-12, before Felician ended the match with a three-point run.
- Stanley (15), Douglas (12), Kelleher (11), and Girard (11) all reached double digit kills with Douglas establishing a new career-high.
- Isabella Smith led with 12 digs while Olivia Smith had 21 assists.
- Rios led with three aces while Stanley put up four blocks.
Game Four: Bentley 3, Molloy 1
Bentley 25, Molloy 20
Molloy 25, Bentley 19
Bentley 25, Molloy 20
Bentley 25, Molloy 21
How it Happened
- Molloy's young squad held their own against 2025 NCAA Quarterfinalist Bentley (6-6). The Lions had an early lead in the first set following two kills from Stanley and an ace from Riddle to make it 5-1.
- An 8-0 run from the Falcons to go in front 10-6 easily could have sapped the Lions' momentum, but Molloy clawed back and remained within striking distance, eventually tying the set at 16 before a 7-1 run from Bentley ultimately proved to be more than Molloy would respond to.
- Undeterred, the lead once again belonged to the Lions to start the second set. Five different runs of three or more points while holding the Falcons to just one series of consecutive points allowed for a dominant 21-12 lead and ultimately power Molloy to a victory in set two.
- Kills from Girard, Kappaz, and freshman Laci Smith paired with an ace from Rios helped the Lions to an 8-1 lead early in the third set. Bentley would battle back within three, 14-11, before firing off eight-straight points to regain the lead.
- Molloy would keep them close, coming within two, 22-20, before the set would ultimately go in favor of the Falcons.
- After falling behind 8-0 to start the fourth set, the Lions continued the attack, responding with a five-point run of their own that saw kills from Stanley, Douglas, and Kappaz to make it a three-point game.
- Molloy remained close throughout the conclusion of the contest, coming within one point three times down the stretch.
- Stanley and Girard each landed 10 kills.
- Riddle had another double-double with 11 assists and a team-leading 15 digs. She was joined in double digits by 10 assists from Olivia Smith, 14 digs from Isabella Smith, and 13 digs from Kappaz.
- Rios and Olivia Smith each recorded three aces.
Up Next
Molloy will remain on the road next week with a Friday evening bout at Southern Connecticut State University on September 18 at 7:00 PM.
