NEW ROCHELLE, NY-  The Iona College volleyball team picked up another conference win in a three-set handling of Manhattan in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Center.   The Gaels (11-6, 4-2 MAAC) topped the Lady Jaspers, 25-9, 25-21, 25-21 on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore Rachel Whitten led the Gaels with 10 kills and a .364 hitting percentage in the win.  It was her fourth 10+ kill effort in her last five matches since an injury to senior captain Kendall Paulus pushed her into the starting lineup.  Rookie Molly O'Shea continued a stellar weekend with nine kills while junior Sarah Wiener, sophomore Colleen Genett and freshman Rachelle Wilson each posted six kills.

The Gaels always steady defense saw success in a different way, posting 11 blocks in the three games.  Genett matched a career-high with seven, a feat accomplished last Sep. 5 at home vs. La Salle.  Wiener had five while Wilson and Whitten each had three.  Sophomore Allison Nieters averaged 5.7 digs per set with her 17.  Whitten and Fojanesi each had nine while setter Alyssa Erickson record eight digs to go along with her 27 digs.

Set 1:
An attack error by the Lady Jaspers gave Iona a 4-3 lead and the team never looked back.  The Maroon & Gold ended the game on a nine straight service points by Wilson and scored 11 of the last 13 points in the frame to take the 25-9 win.  As a team, the Gaels made just one error in 27 attack attempts and held manhattan to a -.122 hitting percentage with the help of 5.5 team blocks.

Set 2:
The closest of the three sets, the frame featured nine ties and two lead changes.  Iona's largest deficit of the match was at 7-4, but rallied for three straight to knot the score at seven each. Whitten gave the Gaels the lead for good with a kill to make the score 15-14.  Iona scored five of the sets last seven points in earning the 25-21 victory.  Whitten and O'Shea combined for 10 of the team's 19 kills in the win.  Nieters record 11 digs in the frame.

Set 3:
Whitten helped the Gaels to a 10-6 lead with a kill.  The visitors did not give up were able to climb back to a 19-19 tie but Iona went on another late run to post the four-point win.  The Gaels balanced attack was led by Genett and Whitten with three kills a piece.  Genett also posted three blocks.

The Gaels will tuneup for its annual Western New York swing next weekend with a non-conference match up at the Hynes Athletics Center.  The Maroon & Gold will have to fight hard to keep its unblemished home mark intact as the Pioneers come in to New Rochelle with a seven-game winning streak most recently two five-set wins over Iona's 2008 opponents Saint Peter's and Central Connecticut.

GAME SCORES               1  2  3  TEAM RECORDS
Manhattan........... (0)  9 21 21  3-11, 3-3 MAAC
Iona College........ (3) 25 25 25  11-6, 4-2 MAAC