NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College volleyball team picked up a three-set win over Rider in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels improved to 4-1 in conference play and 10-5 overall. Senior RS Bethany Schornack had eight kills and hit .500 for the contest to lead the Maroon & Gold.

Schornack and senior MB Rachel Whitten were each 4-for-6 in attack attempts in a 25-12 first set win. The Gaels trailed 4-0 to start set two and climbed back to tie at 13-13. Iona tallied 15 of the sets last 22 points to win 25-19. The Gaels also used a late run in the final set, outscoring Rider 17-4 to end the match and the 25-16 set win.

Schornack and sophomore OH Theresa Harvey each had eight kills while senior MB Colleen Genett and freshman OH Alicja Pawelec had seven a piece. Genett was involved with six of Iona's eight blocks in the win. Harvey also posted nine digs. Senior S Alyssa Erickson was 2-for-4 on attack attempts and had 31 assists and eight digs. Senior libero Allison Nieters continued her stellar defensive play with 22 digs. She added a team best three aces.

Rider's Katelyn Thompson shrugged off early first set struggles with all of her 10 kills coming in the final two sets. Elyse Grassmuck had 15 digs and Amanda Piccolini had 21 assists in the loss.

The Gaels host MAAC unbeaten Fairfield tomorrow at the Hynes Center at 2:00 pm. It's an early matchup for the league's top two teams through the first five contests of the season.