BALTIMORE, MD - The Iona College volleyball team held off Loyola in a five-set thriller in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Reitz Arena. After taking the first two sets, the Gaels (8-4, 2-0 MAAC) dropped the next two and won the deciding set 15-10 to remain unbeaten in MAAC play after the first conference weekend. The individual set scores were 25-22, 25-18, 27-29, 13-25, 15-10.
The Maroon & Gold had a strong performance from its left side as sophomore
Theresa Harvey and freshman
Alicja Pawelec combined for 35 of the team's 60 kills in the match. Harvey posted her third double-double of the year matching her career-high with 20 kills to go along with 16 digs. She hit .360 in the contest with just two errors on 50 attack attempts. Pawelec added eight digs and four blocks, both season-highs for the rookie.
In the middle, senior
Colleen Genett recorded 14 kills on a team best .448 hitting percentage. Her classmate -
Rachel Whitten - had eight kills and a team-high five blocks.
Senior setter
Alyssa Erickson had her sixth double-double of the year with a season-best 52 assists and 13 digs. It was the sixth match of Erickson's career with 50+ assists and first since her career-high of 59 vs. Canisius on Nov. 8, 2008.
Senior libero
Allison Nieters and senior DS
Laura Fojanesi had strong efforts as well in the back row. Nieters had 33 digs and broke the 30 dig mark for the second time in four matches. She climbed six spots on the weekend with her 53 digs and stands tied at No. 20 all-time on the NCAA career digs list. Fojanesi posted her fourth match of the season with double-digit digs with 11 in the match. Senior RS
Bethany Schornack added eight digs in the victory.
Both teams hit .247 in the match. The Gaels held the total despite an .059 in the fourth set loss. Iona held a 94-84 advantage in digs, 9-7 on blocks and 7-5 in aces.
Loyola's (5-9, 0-2 MAAC) Nina Camaioni led her squad with 23 kills. Three Greyhounds had 16 digs a piece.
After 12 matches away from the Hynes Center to open up the season the Maroon & Gold continues MAAC play in its 2010 home opener vs. Marist on Saturday (Sep. 25) at 2:00 pm.
