RIVERDALE, NY - The Iona College volleyball team could not put Manhattan away in a five-set loss at Draddy Gym. Down 2-0 in the match, the Jaspers earned three straight set wins to push Iona one game back in the loss column in their hopes for a MAAC postseason berth.

After earning 25-21 and 25-21 set wins, the Gaels allowed Manhattan to comeback 25-22, 25-11 and 17-15. Iona erased a 10-5 deficit in the fifth set and got to set point at 14-13, but the Jaspers scored four of the next five points to earn the match win.

Freshman Catrina Warren posted 15 kills and had seven blocks to lead the Gaels. Sophomore Madisyn Spence added 13 kills while classmate Alicja Pawelec recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs. Junior Molly O'Shea added eight kills wile rookie Taylor Cembalisty had six in the loss.

Senior setter Nicole Tamburri also recorded a double-double with 45 assists and 13 digs. She added four kills and five blocks.

Junior libero Theresa Harvey posted 20 digs and moved into eighth place on Iona's all-time list with 1,023. Against Saint Peter's on Saturday, she became the ninth Gael all-time to reach the millennia mark. Sophomore Ellen Carberry and freshman Katie Marabella also reached double-digit digs with 11 and 10 respectively.

Manhattan was led by four performers with 10 or more digs with Mariana Furquim's 18 and Malia McGuiness' 17 leading the way. They each recorded double-doubles with 22 and 11 digs respectively. Setter Hollegn Henderson also posted a double-double with 57 assists and 10 digs in the win.

With one match left to play against 14-2 Fairfield on Saturday evening at home, the Gaels (9-8) sit one loss behind Manhattan (9-7) and Siena (9-7) who are tied for third place. In the tight race for the remaining two playoff spots, Iona is tied in the loss column with both Canisius (8-8) and Marist (8-8).