NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College volleyball program dropped a heartbreaker five-set match Wednesday evening to the visiting Rider Broncs.  The Gaels took the first two sets (25-21, 27-25), but the Broncs galloped their way back into the match, earning three straight set wins (17-25, 16-25, 8-15) to claim the match.

Freshman Tess Connolly had a match-high 14 kills with just two attack errors.  She finished hitting .316 in the match on 38 attack attempts.  Sophomore Claire Archibald had a double-double effort with 13 kills and 15 digs. 

Sophomore Jessica Paolucci had a match-high 27 digs.  Sophomore Emma Rose had a team-high 27 assists, with sophomore Kait Ferretti chipping in 19 digs and seven digs.

Rider had 11 blocks compared to just five for Iona.  The Broncs hit .207 in the match while committing just seven service errors with nine service aces.  The Gaels hits .171 for the match, feeling the brunt of 13 service errors and two block errors.

Iona hit .256 and .214 in the opening two sets, but didn't surpass that mark in the final three sets.

Rider senior Kaitlyn Griffin had a match-high five blocks and .444 hit percentage.  Junior Veronica Koval had a match-high 42 assists.

Iona returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 5 with a trip to Loudonville, NY to take on the Siena Saints.