ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 19, 2018) – Despite a near double-double from sophomore Leilani Vazquez (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Adelphi University), the Mercy College volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (16-25, 17-25, 25-19, 17-25) decision to ECC foe Molloy College on Friday night.
The Mavericks (9-14, 4-5 ECC) see their three-match winning streak come to an end, while the Lions (14-6, 7-2 ECC) sweep the season series with Mercy.
Vazquez had nine kills and 15 digs and sophomore Adriana Lopez-Soto (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame HS) had a team-high 16 digs. Senior Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) had 14 digs and senior Kaitlyn Partridge (Corona, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College) had nine kills. Senior Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Demarest) dished out 28 assists and had seven digs.
Molloy was led by Carly Banks who had a match-high 15 kills.
The two teams were tied at 4-4 in the opening set, but the Lions responded with an 11-3 run to build a 15-7 lead, forcing a Mercy timeout. Out of the timeout, Molloy increased the lead to 20-10 and led the rest of the way in taking set one, 25-16.
The hosts took a 6-1 lead in set two. However, Mercy would battle back and tie the set up at 7-7. The Lions would follow with a 9-3 run to build a 16-10 advantage. The Mavericks cut the deficit to two, 17-15, leading to a Molloy timeout. The Lions ended the set on an 8-2 run to earn a 25-17 set two win.
Mercy took a 9-5 lead in set three following a Partridge kill. Molloy batted back and took a 17-13 lead and looked to be on the verge of a straight-set win. The Mavericks had other plans as they rattled off seven straight points, capped off by Partridge kill, to give Mercy a 20-17 lead. The Lions made it 20-18 before the Mavericks concluded the set on a 5-1 run to take set three, 25-19.
Mercy jumped out to a 5-3 lead in set four after a Petty kill. Molloy regrouped and came back on a 9-2 run to take a 12-7 advantage. The Lions increased the lead to 22-11 later in the set and held on for a 25-17 win to secure the match.
Mercy hit .116 with 42 kills and 71 digs and Molloy hit .238 with 52 kills and 70 digs.
Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at Queens at 1 p.m.
