FAIRFIELD, CT- The Iona College volleyball team earn a key Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win on the road in a five-set thriller over Fairfield at Alumni Hall. The Gaels (14-13, 12-5 MAAC) remained in control of their own MAAC Championship destiny with one MAAC match remaining in the regular season.

Several notable achievements occurred with the win. Iona snapped the Stags 12-match win streak, a mark bookended by losses to the Maroon & Gold. It was the Gaels first win at Alumni Hall in 11 seasons. With 12 conference wins, Iona matched a program record from 2010.

After dropping the first set 25-18, the Gaels rebounded for set wins in the second and third 25-19 and 25-18. Iona dropped the fourth set 25-19 setting up a deciding fifth set. The Maroon & Gold surrendered the first four points put quickly climbed back to tie the score at 7-7. Fairfield scored its eighth point of the set to take a one-point advantage. Iona rebounded for eight straight points to take the set 15-8.

Senior OH Alicja Pawelec recorded 20 kills and 15 digs while hitting .333. She added two aces in the win. Three other Gaels recorded double-doubles. Junior RS Taylor Cembalisty had 13 kills and 12 digs, junior OH Catrina Warren had 11 kills and 20 digs and sophomore setter Natalie Ziskin posted 47 assists and 16 digs. Up the middle, sophomore McKenzie Humann and Shannon Ward combined for 16 kills and six blocks. Senior libero Madisyn Spence had a team-best 22 digs.

Fairfield's Marilyn Pizer posted 20 kills and 11 digs. Setter Rachel Romansky had 50 assists and 14 digs while libero Carsen Mata posted a match-high 25 digs in the loss.

The Gaels tune up for next Saturday's regular season finale vs. Manhattan with a mid-week non-conference tilt at N.J.I.T. on Wednesday.