ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Sept. 28, 2022) – Despite a near double-double from senior Yarianne Gonzalez (Manati, P.R./Monroe College), the Mercy College volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (23-25. 10-25, 23-25) decision to ECC foe Molloy University on Wednesday night at Quealy Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (7-2, 1-1 ECC) see their three-match winning streak come to an end and suffer their first ECC loss of the season. The Lions (8-7, 2-1 ECC) move over .500 with the win.
Gonzalez had a team-high 23 assists with nine digs and senior Larissa Schneid (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) had a team-high-tying seven kills with a team-high 11 digs. Junior Anyelainy Vizcaino Araujo (Santo Domingo Oeste, D.R./Southwestern CC) had a team-high-tying seven kills and senior Stéphanie Lankhorst (Apeldoorn, Netherlands/Koninklijke Scholengemeenschap Apeldoorn) had six kills and two blocks. Senior Ayzaline Garay (San Juan, P.R./Bronx School of Law, Government and Justice) had 10 digs and senior Julia Pomerleau (Portland, Maine/University of Southern Maine) had five kills. Senior Selma Vulic (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) added eight digs.
Molloy was led by Kathleen Doherty and Kaitlin Jordan who both had a match-high eight kills.
Mercy jumped out to a 15-13 lead in the opening set before the hosts stormed back on a 5-1 run to take an 18-16 lead. The Mavericks responded by tying the set at 19-19 after a Vizcaino Araujo kill. Molloy followed by taking the lead back at 22-20. Mercy recorded the next three points to take a 23-22 lead. However, the Lions closed out the set with three consecutive points to earn a 25-23 set one win.
The Mavericks took a 4-2 lead in set two after a Tanializ Rivera (Carolina, P.R./Concordia College) ace. Molloy ensued with a 22-5 run to take a 24-9 lead late in the set. After a Molloy service error made it 24-10, a Mercy service error gave the Lions a 25-10 set two win.
Mercy built a 12-9 lead in set three after a Lankhorst kill. The Mavericks later held a 16-14 lead, but the Lions scored the next three points to take a 17-16 lead. Mercy battled back and retook the lead at 20-19 after another Lankhorst kill. Molloy bounced back and went on a 5-1 run to take a 24-21 lead. A kill from Vizcaino Araujo and a Pomerleau block got Mercy to within one, 24-23. However, a Mercy attack error gave the Lions the set and match.
Mercy hit .028 with 28 kills, 46 digs, three blocks and four aces. Molloy hit .194 with 33 kills, 45 digs, five blocks and seven aces.
Head Coach Ana Todorovic and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, October 1st when they host Queens at 12 p.m.
