NEW ROCHELLE, NY – First year Iona College volleyball head coach Patric Santiago has announced the schedule for the quickly approaching 2016 campaign. Santiago looks to continue the growth of student-athletes both on and off the court while propelling the program forward.
The Iona Gaels will start the season off on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Central Connecticut State University Invitational. There the Maroon & Gold will face off against host CCSU, neighborhood rival Fordham, and Patriot League member Lehigh.
A few days later on Tuesday, Aug. 30, the Maroon & Gold will play their first home game at the Hynes Athletics Center versus St. John's. Last year the Red Storm swept the Gaels at their home gym.
The Gaels make their second trip to the Nutmeg State to be part of the Yale Tournament in New Haven, CT over the first weekend of September. Iona will match up against BIG-10 member Rutgers, the Great Danes of Albany, and the host Yale Bulldogs.
On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Stony Brook will play host to Iona; it'll be the second America East foe of non-conference play for coach Santiago's squad.
The Maroon & Gold have back-to-back contests come Sept. 13 & 14; St. Francis Brooklyn travels to New Rochelle for a showdown that Tuesday night, and the Manhattan Jaspers will then play host to the Gaels in each's first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game. Iona last played the Terriers in 2014 and came away with a victorious three-game sweep.
The following weekend Iona will travel to Loretto, PA to play in the Red Flash Classic. Iona will open up the weekend on Friday with a single game against Navy. Saturday will bring with it two contests, one being in the morning against Eastern Kentucky, and the other coming in the evening against the host Saint Francis PA.
The MAAC season will come into full swing come Saturday, Sept. 24; the Gaels open up the second half of the season against Quinnipiac in Hamden, and will follow it up just a day later at the defending MAAC Champions Fairfield. The Bobcats were the lone MAAC team that the Maroon & Gold swept last season.
The first major home stretch for Iona comes late September into early October. NJIT enters the Hynes Center on Tuesday, Sept. 27 for the Gaels finale non-conference bout of the seasons. Come Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2, the Maroon & Gold will attempt to defend their home court against the Marist Red Foxes and Siena Saints.
The three-game home stand will be followed by a four game stretch on the road; the annual trip to Buffalo is set for the weekend of Saturday, Oct. 8. The Peacocks and Broncs will make two consecutive trips to New Jersey for Iona come Saturday, Oct. 15, and Sunday Oct. 16.
Friday, Oct. 21 marks the start another four game home stand for Iona. The Bobcats and Gaels are set to serve up and begin the stretch, that contest will be followed by the Stags, Jaspers, and Broncs on Oct. 22, 28 and Nov. 2.
The Gaels will look to finish strong in their last two away games of the season as they play a back-to-back against Siena and Marist.
To close out the regular season, Iona will have three games at the Hynes Athletics Center. The Peacocks travel to New Rochelle on Wednesday, Nov. 9, and they'll be followed by the Golden Griffs on Saturday, Nov. 12. Senior day will be on Sunday, Nov. 13 when Iona takes on Niagara.
With immensely youthful talent in sophomores, and reigning All-MAAC Rookie Team members, Jessica Paolucci and Claire Archibald, and returning hard-hitting starter Amanda Gannon, the Gaels will look to improve upon their 10-20, 7-11 MAAC record from last season. Iona's roster consists mainly of underclassmen; just three upperclassmen in juniors Kassandra Darnaby, Shaina Campbell, and senior Karly White. Four newcomers will be joining coach Santiago in his first year, making the underclass group a total of 12.
All game played in the Hynes Center will be broadcasted live on ESPN3 and all WatchESPN platforms.
