ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 25, 2016) - Despite losing the first two sets, the LIU Post volleyball team came from behind to defeat East Coast Conference foe Molloy College, 3-2 (16-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-12), on Tuesday at Quealy Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (10-11, 3-5 ECC) kept their hopes alive with a 25-17 victory in the third set. Leading 13-12, the green and gold went on an 8-0 run to pull away from the Lions (4-21, 1-8 ECC). Junior outside/middle/right-side hitter Danielle Valenza (Hauppauge, N.Y.) ignited the spurt with back-to-back kills. Senior middle hitter Taryn McCullouch (Buena Park, Calif.) added a kill and a block.

In the fourth game, LIU Post battled back from an early 8-5 deficit to grab a 14-9 edge. Three different players provided two kills apiece for the visitors in the burst.

Though Molloy later rallied to even the set at 20-all, the Pioneers got three kills down the stretch from Valenza to secure a 25-23 victory.

Tied at 4-4 in the final set, LIU Post reeled off a 7-1 streak to open up an 11-5 advantage. Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Londot (Utica, Ohio) paced the Pioneers with four kills in the run.

Molloy eventually clawed back again and trimmed the deficit to 12-11, but LIU Post held on for a 15-12 win. A block from McCullouch and sophomore setter Giulia Genna (Rome, Italy) won the match for the Pioneers.

Three different players tallied double-digit kills for the green and gold. Valenza put down a match-best 20 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double. Londot had a double-double (18 kills, 15 digs), as well. McCullouch registered 12 kills and eight blocks. Genna dished out 42 assists. Sophomore outside/right-side hitter Navah Evans (Oakland, Calif.) and freshman libero/defensive specialist Abby Eckhardt (Westminster, Colo.) totaled 19 and 17 digs, respectively.

Head Coach Amanda Ostapow and her LIU Post squad are back in action Saturday (Oct. 29), when they host Daemen College in an ECC clash at noon at the Pratt Recreation Center in Brookville.