WICHARD, NICALEK TOTAL 11 KILLS AS VOLLEYBALL FALLS SHORT AT BRIDGEPORT, 3-1

Box Score vs. Bridgeport - October 27, 2009

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Oct. 27, 2009) – On Tuesday, junior outside hitter Arielle Wichard (Merrick, N.Y.) and sophomore right-side hitter Angelica Nicalek (Valley Stream, N.Y.) notched a team-best 11 kills apiece, but it wasn’t enough as the Molloy College volleyball team lost to University of Bridgeport, 3-1 (14-25, 25-22, 13-25, 17-25), at Hubbell Gymnasium in Bridgeport, Conn. Wichard also recorded a .333 attack percentage, while Nicalek picked up eight digs and a pair of block assists in the defeat.

After losing the opening set in decisive fashion, the Lions (8-18, 3-7 ECC) led the second set by a 3-2 count. They then proceeded to start up a 5-0 streak, which extended the lead to six. Wichard opened things up with a kill, while sophomore middle hitter Catherine Russini (Westbury, N.Y.) capped off the burst with an ace. The Purple Knights (28-4, 9-0 ECC) answered with four straight to cut it to a pair. Freshman outside hitter Taylor McBeth (Langley, British Columbia, Canada) slammed two kills in the effort.

From there on in, the two squads continued to trade points. At 24-22, Molloy won the set on a kill by Nicalek off of a feed from freshman setter Jennifer Koelbel (West Hempstead, N.Y.). The third set was a spitting image of the first. Deadlocked at 5-5, Bridgeport got four straight. Graduate middle hitter Emma Ariyo (Kampala, Uganda) put down a ball in that run. Soon after, at 11-6, the Lions trimmed the deficit to a single point on kills by Nicalek and junior right-side hitter Tina King (Point Lookout, N.Y.).

The Purple Knights responded though with a 6-0 spurt, which put the set away. Graduate outside hitter Agatha Baliddawa (Jinja, Uganda) and junior outside hitter Terry Masava (Nairobi, Kenya) respectively opened and wrapped up the burst with kills. During the fourth set, Bridgeport led 12-11. It once again pieced together a strong streak to silence a possible Molloy rally – this one a 4-0 spurt. Baliddawa and Masava had an encore performance as they combined for three of the four points during the run.

Head Coach Kevin Quiambao and the Lions return to action this Saturday when they head to Waterbury, Conn. for a tri-match at Post University. Molloy will face Philadelphia University at 3 p.m. and then the host Eagles in the nightcap at 5 p.m.