NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College volleyball team used a balanced effort in a three-set defeat of Hofstra in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels (6-11) won the match 25-14, 27-25, 25-18 to improve to 5-0 at home.

All five Iona hitters posted at least five kills in the win. Sophomore RS Taylor Cembalisty led the way with 10 and a .588 hitting percentage while sophomore MB Catrina Warren had nine (.409), junior OH Alicja Pawelec had eight, freshman MB McKenzie Humann had seven and junior OH Madisyn Spence (.500) posted five. The Gaels had 39 kills and hit .320 in the three-set victory. 

Defensively, Iona posted 53 digs led by senior libero Theresa Harvey's 17. Pawelec and Spence each had nine and sophomore DS Katie Marabella recorded seven. Warren had a team-high three blocks.

Sophomore S Caris Myles anchored the defense and offense with 34 assists.

Iona took the lead for good in the first set after snapping a 2-2 tie on a Humann kill. The Maroon & Gold used a 5-0 run to open a 13-5 advantage and never looked back in the 11-point set win.

Seven ties and two lead changes highlighted the middle set between the two squads. Hofstra survived set point at 24-23 when a Pawelec attack nicked the pole and was ruled an error. With the score tied at 25-25 two straight Pride errors led to Iona's two-point victory.

Despite the seven-point Gael win in the final set, 10 ties and two lead changes came in the frame. Iona completed the match on an 11-4 and 7-2 run.

Hofstra OHs Kelsie Wills and Nikki Kinnier led the visitors with 14 and 10 kills respectively. Libero Kylee Maneja had 16 digs while S Catalina Charry had five kills, 31 assists and 12 digs in the loss.

Iona returns to MAAC play this weekend when they host Marist (Oct. 6) and Siena (Oct. 7) at the Hynes Center.