ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Iona College volleyball team completed action at a hurricane shortened Kristen Dickmann Invitational splitting matches with St. John's and host Navy on Friday. The Gaels (1-1) opened the season with a hard-fought four-set loss to the Red Storm before sweeping the Midshipmen in three to finish the evening.
Due to the impending landfall of Hurricane Irene, the Maroon & Gold's contests vs. Bowling Green and Air Force on Saturday have been cancelled.
Iona dropped the opener to the BIG EAST's St. John's despite out scoring its opponent in 97-93 in the four sets. The Gaels also out hit the Red Storm .180-.168, had an 88-87 dig and 9-5 block advantage in the defeat.
The Gaels led 21-17 in the first before a late 8-2 Red Storm run wrapped up the set 25-23. The second set took 34 points to determine a winner. Iona out lasted St. John's two set points before garnering a one-point lead at 28-27 and 29-28 before succumbing 34-32. The Maroon & Gold rolled over the Red Storm in set three, taking a 13-0 lead before allowing a point. Iona held St. John's to nine points in the set to earn the win. The Red Storm proved too much for Iona in the fourth set, never trailing in the 25-17 win. Iona got to within one at 16-15 but could not find an equalizer.
Sophomore OH
Alicja Pawelec earned her first collegiate double-double with 16 kills and 15 digs. Her classmate,
Madisyn Spence, matched her career-best with 11 kills in the loss. Rookie S
Caris Myles had 32 assists in her Iona debut to go along with seven digs. Freshman
Catrina Warren also had a solid debut with six kills, seven digs and a team-best eight blocks. Junior libero
Theresa Harvey posted a career-best 27 digs in her first contest a the Gaels' top defensive player. Rookie DS
Katie Marabella posted nine digs and a team-best five aces.
Four Red Storm performers posted 10 or more digs with Brunna Kronbauer leading the way with 19 kills and 20 digs.
Iona swept Navy in the night cap, winning the match 25-20, 25-20 and 25-18.
Pawelec' posted 13 kills with eight digs, two blocks and a career-high three aces in the win. Warren and senior MB
Molly O'Shea combined for 13 kills on 29 attempts with just three errors along with six blocks up the middle for the Gaels. Myles had 32 assists at setter and seven digs while Harvey posted 21 digs in the back row.
Navy's Maida Kalic posted 12 kills in the loss.
The Gaels will return to action next weekend for three games at the Stony Brook Holiday Inn Express Tournament. Iona first meets Rhode Island next Friday (Sep. 2) at 4:30 pm.
