ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. - Southern Connecticut volleyball defeated Molloy, 3-1, in a non-conference matchup on Friday night. The Owls improved to an overall record of 9-3 while the Lions dropped to an overall record of 10-5. With the victory, Southern extended their win streak to five; which is their longest win streak of the season so far.
Sydney Bennett led the Owls with a career-best and team-best of 16 kills and an impressive, attack percentage
of .625. Bennett also had a team-best of six blocks against the Lions.
Kerrigan Habing had 12 kills and
Kimi Mitchell had eight kills.
Sarah Henault and
Kimi Mitchell recorded a team-best of two service aces.
Sarah Stark and
Katie Bardak added four blocks each.
Kimi Mitchell recorded her second straight double-double of the season with a team-best of 37 assists and 11 digs. Henault had a team-best of 12 digs and
Ceci Carter added seven digs of her own against Molloy.
In the first set, the Lions took an early advantage but the Owls worked their way back to take a 7-4 lead, with back-to-back kills by
Sydney Bennett, both assisted by
Kimi Mitchell. After that, both teams fought hard to regain the lead and tie the match up. Through multiple lead changes, Southern pulled away with kills from Bennett and a kill from
Victoria Pascual to take the first set, 25-20.
In the second set,
Kerrigan Habing got the first kill of the set, with an assist from Mitchell, to put the Owls in control, early on. Much like the first set, the advantage would not stay in the favor of just one team, as both teams worked hard to have momentum on their side. Molloy looked to finish out the set but Southern responded with a kill from
Katie Bardak and a service ace from Mitchell, to take the lead back. Nevertheless, the Lions answered with three straight points to take the second set, 26-24.
In the third set, the battle continued on with the lead switching back and forth, quickly. Down by just point, Southern was determined to win the set as kills from Habing and Mitchell, three kills by
Ceci Carter and a service ace by Mitchell, pushed the Owls to take the third, 25-22.
In the fourth set, coming off of a even score of 4-4, Southern extended their advantage to five points, as they looked to continue with their momentum swing. The Lions didn't go away as they clawed their way back to retake the lead. Once again, the Owls came to take the lead back and despite points put on the board by the Lions, Southern finished out the match strong with kills from Bennett and Carter, to win the final set, 25-22 and a 3-1 victory.
The Owls will open up NE10 conference play on Friday, Oct. 10 against Assumption University at 5:00 p.m. in Pelz Gym.
