LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Iona College volleyball game came back from a 2-1 deficit in a thrilling five-game win over Rider in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Alumni Gym.  The Gaels (10-6, 3-2 MAAC) got back on track after falling twice on the road last weekend.

Four Iona players recorded 10 or more kills led by rookie Molly O'Shea's career-best 16 kill effort.  It was her third 10+ kill effort and second in the last three matches.  Sophomore Collen Genett posted 16 kills while freshman Rachelle Wilson had 14 and sophomore Rachel Whitten recorded 13 in the win.

The Gaels had 11 total blocks on the day.  Wilson recorded four while Genett, O'Shea and junior Sarah Wiener had three each.

Sophomore Allison Nieters had her fifth 30+ dig effort of the season with an even 30.   Four other players recorded 10 or more. Whitten and O'Shea completed their first collegiate double-doubles with 16 and 13 digs respectively.   Sophomore Laura Fojanesi also posted 13 digs.

Sophomore setter Alyssa Erickson had her team leading seventh double-double with 50 assists and 1 digs.

Set 1:
A 4-0 Rider run with the score tied at 19-19 gave the home team the push it needed in the 27-25 set one win.  The Gaels were able to tie the score on a Nieters' ace, but it was the Broncs' that scored three of the last four points in the game to come out victorious.  Wilson had a match-high five kills in the set.

Set 2:
Iona came out swinging in the second frame, posting a 25-18 win.  An early 11-6 lead paced the Maroon & Gold as the Broncs' could not get any closer than three points the rest of the way.  O'Shea, Whitten and Wilson each had four kills in the set.

Set 3:
Another battle that forced the winning point past 25 saw the Broncs edge the Gaels 28-26.  Iona held a five-point, 19-14, lead but four straight Rider points and an 8-2 run, put the the hosts ahead by a point.   The Gaels served for set point at 25-24, but the Broncs fought back to earn the two-point win.  Iona's balanced attack saw O'Shea with four kills and Genett, Whitten and Wilson with three a piece.

Set 4:
With their backs against the wall, the Gaels responded with a strong performance in the fourth set.  An 8-1 run put Iona ahead 11-5.  The squad held off Rider once again as they could not cut the margin to less than four points in Iona's 27-17 set win.  Genett matched Wilson's match-high with five kills.  Nieters recorded eight digs.

Set 5:
The only lead Rider held in the contest was at 2-1.  A block by Genett and O'Shea tied the score at 2-2 an two straight attack errors by the Broncs' gave Iona the lead for good in the 15-12 victory.  O'Shea led Iona for the third time in five sets with three kills.

The Gaels completed a four-game road trip with a 2-2 record and return to the cozy confines of the Hynes Athletics Center in a Sunday afternoon matchup with Manhattan.   Catch the game live via ICGaels.com's Iona Insider video stream.

GAME SCORES               1  2  3  4  5  TEAM RECORDS
Iona College........ (3) 25 25 26 25 15  10-6, 3-2 MAAC
Rider............... (2) 27 18 28 17 12  8-7, 1-4 MAAC