NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College volleyball team extended its winning streak to a season-long six matches in a three-set sweep of Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play at the Hynes Center. The Gaels (12-12, 10-4 MAAC) became the first 10-match winner in league play this year and stand in third place, a half-game behind Manhattan and Fairfield who are tied for first at 9-3.

Iona came from seven points down in the first set to win 25-22.  The Gaels also came back in the second set in a 25-23 win before closing out the match 25-19.

Senior OH Alicja Pawelec led the way with 13 kills. She added three digs, two aces and two blocks. Playing without the services their leading scorer, junior OH Catrina Warren, the Gaels looked to sophomore Katy Crouse to move to the front row. She responded with a 10-kill, 10-kill double-double. Sophomore MH McKenzie Humann posted seven kills and five blocks, junior RS Taylor Cembalisty had six kills and eight digs and juniro MH Shannon Ward posted four kills and four blocks in the win. 

Sophomore setter Natalie Ziskin had 35 assists and seven kills. Senior libero Madisyn Spence led the back row with 20 digs.

Canisius' Jacklyn Malusa and Emily Elek each had double-digit kill totals. Libero Emily Litwin had 19 digs while setters Grace Streicher and Sydney Palka combined for 33 assists.

Since beginning the season with a 1-10 record, Iona has won 10 of its last 12 matches to climb back to an even .500 on the season. The three-set win also garnered the Gaels a key head-to-head tiebreaker with the Golden Griffins. Canisius topped Iona in five sets in Buffalo earlier in the season. The six-match winning streak is the longest for the Gaels since 2009. The program also won its 11th straight home contest dating back to last season.

Iona hosts its other Western New York counterpart tomorrow at the Hynes Center at noon.