NEW ROCHELLE, NY - With the help of a Marist loss, the Iona College volleyball team gained sole possession of fourth place with a thrilling five-set win over Canisius in MAAC action at the Hynes Center.  The Gaels (17-10, 9-6 MAAC) also pulled to within one loss of the Golden Griffins (16-9, 11-5 MAAC) with three matches to play.

Rookie Rachelle Wilson matched her career-high with 19 kills to lead the Gaels.  It was the second time in the last three matches she reached the mark.  Wilson added an ace and three blocks for a team best 21.5 points.

Junior Sarah Wiener and sophomore Rachel Whitten each had 15 kills in the win.  Whitten completed her third double-double of the season with 10 digs.  It was also her fifth 10+ dig effort in the last six matches.   Wiener matched her career-high with six blocks in the victory.

Sophomore setter Alyssa Erickson had her team-leading 12th double-double of the season with a career-best 59 assists and 14 digs.  The dig total was one shy of her career-high.

Defensively, sophomore Allison Nieters had her eighth match of the season with 30+ digs, posting 34 for the Gaels.   Her back row and classmate Laura Fojanesi had 12 digs while sophomore Colleen Genett had a team-best seven blocks.

The Gaels split the season series with Canisius, however, the Griffs hold the tiebreaker by virtue of a three-set win in Buffalo earlier this season.

Set 1:
Iona overcame a seven-point, 16-9 deficit in a 25-23 set win.  The squad held serve for eight points and recorded a side-out on Cansius' last seven serves during the 15-7 run to end the set.   Whitten had six kills while Wilson added five in the win.

Set 2:
Facing set point at 24-20, the Gaels threatened to tie the match with back-to-back kills by Whitten and Genett and a Canisius' attack error.  Canisius posted the set winning point on a kill by Morgan Ammons, 25-23.  Nieters posted 12 digs in the loss.

Set 3:
After trailing 11-10 early, the Gaels rattled off six straight points on Erickson's serve to take a 16-11 advantage.  Erickson recorded two aces during the decisive run.  The visitors never got closer than four points the rest of the way as Iona earned the 25-20 win.  Wiener was a perfect 6-for-6 in attack attempts to lead the Gaels.

Set 4:
It was Canisius' turn for a late comeback, scoring five straight points to end the 25-23 win.  Iona's 23-20 advantage was the largest lead of the set by either squad since the Gaels' went up 4-0 to start the frame.  The Gaels employed a balanced attack and out hit the Griffs .257-.103 in the loss.

Set 5:
The lead changed hands just once in the set as Iona took a 2-1 advantage early and never trailed.  Canisius mounted a valiant comeback attempt late, but the eight point deficit at match point was too much to overcome.  Wiener's 4-for-5 effort led the Gaels to a match best .364 hitting percentage.

The Gaels are back in action tomorrow against Niagara at the Hynes Center at 2:00 pm.

GAME SCORES               1  2  3  4  5     TEAM RECORDS
Canisius............ (2) 23 25 20 25 10  16-9, 11-5 MAAC
Iona College........ (3) 25 23 25 23 15  17-10, 9-6 MAAC