Posted: Nov 09, 2018
Amherst, N.Y. – For the second time in as many years, the Molloy College volleyball team will appear in the East Coast Conference Championship game, earning a five-set victory over the Pioneers of LIU Post this evening in the semifinal matchup in Lumsden Gymnasium.
Set-by-Set
Molloy 25, LIU Post 18
Molloy 25, LIU Post 22
LIU Post 25, Molloy 18
LIU Post 25, Molloy 21
Molloy 15, LIU Post 10
How it Happened
- The Pioneers took an early lead in the first set, but a kill and a service ace from senior Jeanne Reinis paired with a kill from sophomore Kacey Affrunti put the Lions in front, 12-9.
- Molloy extended its lead to 19-13 following a five-point run featuring kills from Reinis and junior Hailey Wehrand a service aces from freshman Nicole Wagner, before taking the opening set.
- The Lions capitalized on mistakes early in the second set to take a 5-1 lead. LIU Post made a late push to come back, stringing together seven straight points to set the score at 22-20, but Molloy held on to take the second set.
- The maroon and white attacked at a game-low .135 in the third set, setting the match score at 2-1.
- Three multi-point runs from LIU Post helped the third-seeded Pioneers take the fourth set, forcing the contest to a deciding set to determine who would advance to tomorrow's Championship game.
- The teams were tied, 9-9, in the fifth set, when a kill from redshirt junior Carly Banks helped spark Molloy to a 12-9 lead.
- The maroon and white closed the contest with three straight points for the victory.
Top Performances
- Banks had a game-high 21 kills, attacking at .472 on the evening. She was joined in double-digits by Affrunti, with 12 kills.
- Junior Sophia Smith led the maroon and white with 14 digs and 45 assists. Senior Meaghan Carr (13), junior Jessica Fischetti (12), Reinis (11), and Wagner (10) all tallied double-digit digs for Molloy.
- Junior Devon Hagerstrom led the squad with three blocks.
Looking Ahead
The second-seeded Lions will take on top-seed Daemen College to determine the ECC Champion tomorrow (Nov. 10) at 6:00 p.m. in Amherst, N.Y.
Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
