WICHARD POSTS STRONG SHOWING AS VOLLEYBALL DROPS 3-0 RESULT AT SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT

Box Score vs. Southern Connecticut - September 4, 2009

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Sept. 4, 2009) - Junior outside hitter Arielle Wichard (Merrick, N.Y.) notched 10 digs and a team-best eight kills on Friday evening, but it was not enough as the Molloy College volleyball team lost by a count of 3-0 (13-25, 30-32, 21-25) to Southern Connecticut State University at Pelz Gymnasium in West Haven, Conn. Junior setter Kristen Sklarsky (Wantagh, N.Y.) dished 20 assists, while senior libero Monika Rodziewicz (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) headed up all Lions with 11 digs. 

Leading 9-7 in the opening set, the Owls (5-0) registered three points in a row, and never looked back. Senior right-side hitter Jenna Tammel (Spring Valley, Minn.) had a point in each part of the run. Shortly thereafter, Southern Connecticut held an 18-13 advantage. It then closed out the set with a 7-0 burst to go up by a 1-0 score in the match. Five of the points came on attack errors - two of which were via a block assist from senior Marcia Hollingsworth (Alexandria, Va.) and junior Broghan Miller (West Hartford, Conn.). 

Up 2-1 in the second set, SCSU went on a 9-1 streak to grab hold of an 11-2 lead. Freshman libero Vanessa Sullivan (Paramus, N.J.) served up back-to-back aces in the burst. Later on, Molloy (1-2) trailed 18-10, and answered with six unanswered points to trim the deficit to two. Sophomore middle hitter Catherine Russini (Westbury, N.Y.) had a pair of service aces. Junior right-side hitter Tina King (Point Lookout, N.Y.) and freshman middle hitter Liz Moulder (Westbury, N.Y.) capped off the run with one kill apiece.

Eventually, the margin remained at two (22-20). The Lions got four of the next six points to knot the set up at 24-up. With the count locked at 30-30, Rodziewicz and freshman libero Stefani Koelbel (West Hempstead, N.Y.) committed attack errors, and the Owls took a 2-0 advantage. 

During the third set, Southern Connecticut led 13-12. It then earned four consecutive points to go ahead by five. Hollingsworth slammed down two kills in the spurt, while sophomore outside hitter Megan Lyons (Cold Spring, N.Y.) added a kill as well. From that point, the Owls won the match for good as the Lions only came as close as one point at two different junctures. 

Head Coach Kevin Quiambao and his squad return to the court tomorrow when Molloy heads to Rutherford, N.J. for a tri-match at Felician College. The Lions will square off with the host Golden Falcons at noon and then the Yellow Jackets of American International College at 3:30 p.m.