ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 4, 2017) – Despite a team-high 11 kills from freshman Courtney Gebhardt (Bloomingburg, N.Y./Pine Bush), the Mercy College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (17-25, 14-25, 22-25) decision to ECC foe Molloy College on Wednesday night.

The Mavericks (3-14, 0-5 ECC) remain winless in ECC play, while the Lions (15-3, 4-1 ECC) bounce back from their first ECC loss of the season.

Gebhardt also contributed four digs and hit .227, while junior Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest) had 26 assists and nine digs. Senior Sa'Naya Johnson (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) recorded six kills and sophomore Jessica Berka (Hicksville, N.Y./St. Dominic) netted seven digs.

Molloy was led by Carly Banks who had 11 kills, while Dakota O'Neill had a team-high ten digs.

The opening set saw the Lions jump out to a 5-1 lead, but the Mavericks battled back and cut the deficit to two, 10-8, after a Runge kill. That would be the closest Mercy could get as Molloy concluded the set on a 15-9 run to take a 1-0 lead.

Mercy opened the second set with a 2-1 lead after a Gebhardt kill. However, the Lions responded with a 12-6 run to build a 13-8 advantage. Following a kill by Gebhardt, Molloy finished off the set on a 12-5 spurt to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

The Mavericks continued to fight in the third set, jumping out to a 6-5 lead. The Lions came back with a 6-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. Mercy quickly followed with four straight points to get within one, 11-10. The Mavericks later trailed 18-17 and looked to force a fourth set, but Molloy went on a 6-2 run to build a 24-19 advantage. Mercy followed with three straight points to make it 24-22 looking to prolong the match, but a Banks kill closed out the set and match.

Mercy hit .081 with 29 kills and 42 digs, while Molloy hit .297 with 38 kills and 44 digs.

Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, October 11th when they host LIU Post at 7 p.m. at Dobbs Ferry High School.