NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College volleyball team used a balanced attack in handing Fairfield it's first MAAC loss of the season in a four-set win at the Hynes Center.   The Gaels (14-8, 6-4 MAAC) rebounded from a first-set loss and won three straight to earn the match victory.

Three Gaels posted 10 or more kills led by junior Sarah Wiener's 13.  Wiener posted a .448 hitting percentage and did not record an error in 29 swings.  She added six digs and five blocks in the victory.  Sophomore Rachel Whitten had her second double-double of the year with 10 kills and 12 digs. Rookie Molly O'Shea posted a .320 hitting percentage with 10 kills.

Defensively, Iona was all over the blocks for the second match in a row, recording 12.5 as a team.  Sophomore Colleen Genett led the way with seven while Wiener and rookie Rachelle Wilson had had five each.  Sophomore setter Alyssa Erickson posted her eighth double-double with 36 assists and 11 digs.  Libero Allison Nieters had 30 digs, the sixth time this season reaching the plateau.  Sophomore Laura Fojanesi added to the team's solid back row defense with 10 digs and rookie Nicole Tamburri contributed five.  Tamburri was also effective on her serve, recording an ace and no errors on 17 attempts.

Set 1:
After a 11-11 tie to begin the match, the Stags took the lead for good and scored five of the sets next six points to take a four-point advantage.  The 25-19 win was sealed by a Kendal Dirkin kill.

Set 2:
The Gaels regrouped and rebounded to tie the match at one a piece with the help of four straight Erickson service points to start the set.  Iona never trailed and took as much as an eight-point lead on two occasions.  At set point and 24-18, Fairfield mounted a comeback attempt and closed to within two points before a Wilson kill sealed the 25-22 win.  Wilson led the way with four kills.

Set 3:
Iona once again took an early lead and never trailed in a 25-18 set win.  Wiener made the score 7-2 on one of her three kills in the set.  The home team survived another comeback attempt as the Stags cut their deficit to one point at 15-14. Iona ended the set on a 10-4 run to claim victory.  Whitten's five kills was a team-high in the win.

Set 4:
Fairfield held the lead for the first six points of the set and for the first time since their set one win.  With the score tied at 5-5, Iona went on another 10-4 and took a 15-9 advantage and completed the set on a 20-9 run to win the match.  Wiener had four kills to lead the way.

The Maroon & Gold hit the road for its final four road contests of the season.  Next weekend the squad takes on Loyola and Saint Peter's on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 25-26)