UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - The Iona College volleyball team fell to 0-3 on the season with losses to No. 1 Penn State and the Big 12's TCU at the Penn State Classic at Rec Hall.

Penn State took the first match of the day 25-13, 25-14 and 25-11.  The Gaels scored the first point in each set but the nation's best team quickly took over.  Senior OH Catrina Warren and sophomore MB Kiana McAuley-Pomeroy each had four kills in the loss. Senior libero Katie Marabella posted nine digs and sophomore MB Karly White had two blocks.

I thought we played very respectable against the No. 1 team in the nation," said head coach Jon Killingbeck. "I was very proud of how our girls never gave up. It's also nice to say that we had the lead in all three sets against Penn State."

The No. 1 Nittany Lions had 11 kills from Ali Frantti, 30 assists from Micha Hancock and 11 digs from Dominique Gonzalez in the match.

In the night cap, the Horned Frogs needed four sets to defeat the Gaels, 25-15, 18-25, 25-11, and 25-18.

Senior RS Taylor Cembalisty had 14 kills, seven digs and three blocks to lead the Gaels. Warren had her first double-double of the year with 11 kills and 10 digs and added two blocks. Rookie OH Kassandra Darnaby posted five kills. Junior Natalie Ziskin and sophomore Kate Broadnax split time at setter and had 19 and 11 assists respectively. Ziskin posted seven digs. Marabella posted 12 digs.

"We returned Taylor to the right side and that's when our offense came alive," said Killingbeck. "We ended up hitting .221 against a Big 12 opponent."

"We learned a lot from all three matches and we will be better in long run because of it," he added.

The Gaels are back in action in a mid-week nonconference tilt with local rival St. Francis Brooklyn before three matches at the SHU Hampton Inn Shelton Invitational hosted by Sacred Heart.