Heffernan Records Match-High 20 Digs as Volleyball Plays at Molloy
Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 27, 2016) – Despite a match-high 20 digs from sophomore Brianna Heffernan (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) and a match-high 12 kills from sophomore Peyton Olson (Albany, Ore./West Albany), the Mercy College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (15-25, 24-26, 19-25) decision to Molloy College in an ECC matchup on Thursday night at Quealy Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (3-16, 2-8 ECC) have now dropped five matches in a row, while the Lions (5-21, 2-8 ECC) snap a seven-match losing streak with the win.
Mercy also received eight kills from sophomore Leah Petty (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Academy) and senior Andrea Velasco (Whittier, Calif./Rio Hondo College) added seven kills. Sophomore Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest) dished out 27 assists and had seven digs.
Molloy was led by Hailey Wehr who had a team-high 11 kills, while Dakota O'Neill contributed 18 digs.
The opening set saw the Mavericks take a 2-0 lead after back-to-back kills from Velasco and junior Danielle Sarasky (Floral Park, N.Y./Floral Park Memorial). The Lions followed with eight straight points to take an 8-2 lead they would not relinquish. Mercy cut the deficit to four, 16-12, after a kill from Sarasky, but the hosts came back with six straight points to end any hope of a Mavericks comeback in set one.
Mercy jumped out to a 15-11 lead in set two following a kill from freshman Gabriella Fernandes (Islip, N.Y./Islip). Molloy battled back and evened up the score at 16-16. The teams would trade points back-and-forth until the Mavericks held a set point at 24-23, forcing a Lions timeout. Out of the timeout, Molloy would score the final three points of the set to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
In the third set, the two teams were tied at 14-14 after a kill by Velasco. The Lions ensued with a 6-1 run to take a 20-15 lead, forcing a Mercy timeout. Following the timeout, the Mavericks cut the deficit to three, 20-17, but Molloy would close out the set on a 5-2 run to secure the match.
Mercy hit .217 on the night with 37 kills and 42 digs, while Molloy hit .280 with 40 kills and 62 digs.
Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, November 3rd when they host LIU Post for Senior Night at 7 p.m.
