New Rochelle, NY - The Gaels have now started off 0-3 this season as the Iona College volleyball team fell to Fordham 1-3 tonight (23-30, 35-33, 11-30, 16-30). Iona was led by junior Kendall Paulus' ten kills in the loss.
After Iona (0-3) tied the score at one to begin the first game, the Rams (3-2) scored the next point and would not relinquish the lead. Down 18-28 late in the first frame, the Gaels managed five straight points including two service aces by Katie Brilla, but could not hold Fordham off.
The Rams looked just as strong early in game two as they jumped out to a 10-3 edge. Iona chipped away slowly, battling back to pull even at 20-20. The largest advantage either team would gain from that point was a slim three points. The two sides traded points up to 33-all, when the Maroon & Gold finally grabbed the game two victory on a kill by freshman Bethany Schornack.
Seemingly drained from their surge, the Gaels were hampered by miscues in the third stanza, managing just 11 points to Fordham's 30.
The Rams opened game four with four consecutive points. Iona held strong, coming back to within two at 9-7, however Fordham scored ten of the game's final 11 points to seal the win.
For Iona, Schornack had 20 assists and rookie libero Allison Nieters recorded 26 digs in the defeat. Five Rams tallied double digit kill totals led by Christie Griffith's 18.
The Gaels return to action on August 31 in the EIU Pepsi Challenge hosted by Eastern Illinois University. They will face Indiana State, Loyola (Ill.), and Memphis in the tournament.
