Rockville Centre, N.Y. – Junior middle blocker Jacquelyne Ghindia (Mission Viejo, Calif./Santa Margarita) recorded 12 kills to lead the Le Moyne College volleyball team to a 3-0 season-opening victory over Nyack College on Friday evening at Molloy College's Quealy Gymnasium. The Dolphins rallied against the host Lions to force a fifth set, but fell to Molloy, 3-2, in their second match of the night.

The Dolphins opened the season by taking the first set against Nyack, 25-20. After the teams split the first 26 points of the set, the Dolphins scored five of the next six points to take control of the set. Le Moyne doubled its lead in the match by rallying for a 25-21 win in the second set. After Nyack took an 18-15 lead, the Dolphins scored eight straight points and 10 of the last 13 to take the set. The Dolphins closed out the victory with a 25-17 win in the third set. Following a 5-0 run by the Warriors to get within 16-15 and force a Le Moyne timeout, the Dolphins scored four straight points and nine of the last 11 to secure the victory.

Ghindia led the Dolphins in the victory by hitting .556 en route to her 12 kills, including five in the first set and four more in the second set. Senior right side Jessica Miller (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) registered 11 kills, including four in each of the second and third sets, while adding six digs and two service aces. Sophomore setter Emily Yancone (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) dished out a career-best 38 assists to lead the offense, while adding seven digs and two kills. Senior libero Mikayla Porr (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) led the Dolphins defensively with 10 digs.

Larreya Hayden tallied 12 kills, including seven in the third set, to lead the Warriors in the loss. Rachel Medin turned in 25 assists, five digs and two kills, while Bailey Medeiros led all players in the match with 11 digs.

Molloy, the defending East Coast Conference champion and NCAA East Region semifinalist, opened the match with a 25-16 win in the first set. After the teams split the first eight points, Molloy used a 15-4 run to take control of the set. The Lions posted a 25-20 victory in the second set to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Following a 16-16 tie, the Lions started to pull away by scoring three straight points. The Dolphins stayed alive by taking the third set, 25-22. After Molloy took a 20-18 lead, the Dolphins scored four straight points and seven of the last night for the win. Le Moyne forced the decisive fifth set with a 25-23 victory in the fourth set. Following a 16-16 tie, the Dolphins scored seven of the next 10 points before holding off a Molloy run for the victory. Molloy tallied a 15-7 win in the fifth set to capture the match. The Lions scored the first six points and 11 of the opening 12 en route to the win.

Miller led the Dolphins in the setback with her second career double-double with 18 kills, including six in the third set, and a career high-tying 11 digs, while adding three assists. Senior outside hitter Marguerite Dillon (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) finished with 13 kills, including five in the third set, and four digs. Freshman outside hitter Alexa Petraitis (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) registered 10 kills, including four in each of the third and fourth sets, in her collegiate debut. Yancone recorded her second career double with career highs of 46 assists and 18 digs, including eight in the fifth set, while adding four service aces and two block assists. Porr led the team defensively with 21 digs, including five in each of the second, third and fourth sets. Classmate Molly Gallagher (Schenectady, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) was the fourth Dolphin to finish with double-digit digs with 11.

Carly Banks led four Lions with double-digit kills with 15. Kacey Affrunti, last year's ECC and AVCA East Region Rookie of the Year, hit an error-free .448 en route to recording 13 kills. Devon Hagerstrom also posted 13 kills, while adding nine block assists. Haily Wehr tallied 10 kills over the first four sets. Sophia Smith directed the offense with 50 assists, while adding 13 digs for a double-double, seven kills and four block assists. Jessica Fischetti led three players with at least 20 digs with 22, while adding four assists and three service aces. Brittany Palladino-DesLauriers turned in 21 digs, while Jeanne Reinis had 20 digs and five kills.

Le Moyne (1-1) takes part in another tri-match on Saturday at LIU Post. The Dolphins take on Bloomfield College at 3:00 p.m. and then face LIU Post at 5:00 p.m.