NICALEK REGISTERS MATCH-HIGH 13 KILLS AS VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO BRIDGEPORT, 3-0

Box Score vs. Bridgeport - October 1, 2009

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 1, 2009) – The Molloy College volleyball team fell to the University of Bridgeport in three sets in an East Coast Conference match on Thursday night at Quealy Gymnasium in Rockville Centre, N.Y. The scores were 25-16, 25-14 and 25-21. Sophomore right-side hitter Angelica Nicalek (Valley Stream, N.Y.) was the sole Lion to record double figures in kills with 13. Freshman setter Jennifer Koelbel (West Hempstead, N.Y.) dished out 18 assists.

The first set opened with the Purple Knights jumping out to a 5-0 lead on the heels of two kills from graduate outside hitter Agatha Baliddawa (Jinja, Uganda). The Lions responded with a 5-0 run of their own to even the score at 5-5 as freshman outside hitter Jenna Faggione (Hicksville, N.Y.) registered two kills in the process. Bridgeport would eventually pull away later in the set, where, with an 8-7 lead, the Purple Knights ran off 10 straight points to take an 18-7 advantage.

Senior libero J.J. Edwards (Ontario, Canada) picked up three of her game-high eight service aces during this streak. MC would get no closer than a six-point deficit, when a Stefani Koelbel (West Hempstead, N.Y.) brought the Lions within 22-16.

The second stanza began similarly to the first with Bridgeport jumping out to the early six-point lead, where one of a total nine kills in the match from Baliddawa made the score 7-1. The serve would see-saw back and forth after that with the Purple Knights taking a 10-point lead at 21-11 on a kill from graduate middle hitter Emma Ariyo (Kampala, Uganda).

Following the intermission, the teams traded points and eventually the Purple Knights took the set 25-14 on a kill from freshman outside hitter Taylor McBeth (Langley, British Columbia, Canada).

With the score tied at 4-4 in the third set, Bridgeport took the lead, this time on the back of 10-4 run to make the score 14-8.The Lions showed some heart and trimmed the lead as Nicalek registered one of her game-high 13 kills to make the score 17-13. Later in that frame, a service ace from Jennifer Koelbel made the score 21-19, but the Lions got no closer as the Purple Knights pulled away for the 25-21 triumph.

For the match, the Lions committed only one service error and recorded five aces. Bridgeport senior setter Milica Micovic (Belgrade, Serbia) recorded an attack percentage of .889 as she killed eight or nine attacks.

Following the defeat, Molloy’s record stands at 6-13 (2-3 ECC). As for Bridgeport, it extended its winning streak to eight straight, and now sits at 17-3 (2-0 ECC).

Head Coach Kevin Quiambao and the Lions return to action this Tuesday when they head to Oakdale, N.Y. to face Dowling College. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.