NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College volleyball program picked up its first win of the 2016 season on Tuesday evening, defeating Saint Francis Brooklyn in straight sets.  Three different Gaels had double-digit kills to lead a highly effective offensive attack.

Sophomore Claire Archibald had her third straight double-double with a team-high 12 kills and 10 digs.  Sophomore Amanda Gannon recorded a team-high 14 points with her second consecutive double-digit kill effort of 10.  She also chipped in with a team-high for aces.  Senior Karly White had 10 kills and two blocks.

Iona battled through and eked out set one 25-21.  The Maroon & Gold offensive excelled in sets two and three, leading to 25-18 and 25-23 decisions.

The Terriers and Gaels knotted the score 15 times in the opening set.  The Maroon & Gold were able to push forward, due in large part to five service aces.  Sophomore Amanda Gannon had three of her aces come in succession to help carry the Gaels momentum.  Sophomore Mia Bonsignore recorded three kills over Iona's final five points in securing the first set.

Come set two, there was no looking back for the Gaels following an early mini 4-1 run.  Iona led the set from start to finish, due in large part to a 63% hitting percentage.  The Terriers helped out the cause by committing seven service errors.

Set three was back-and-forth till the eventual end of the match.  Saint Francis Brooklyn was able to tie the score four times in the span of the Gaels final eight points.  The deciding moment came after an Iona timeout when Archibald blasted her final kill of an assist from sophomore Kait Ferretti to give the Maroon & Gold a 24-23 lead.  Bonsignore closed out the match with her fifth kill.

Ferretti had a team-high 22 assists, and sophomore Emma Rose assisted on 15 points.  Gannon had a team-best .429 hit percentage, and White wasn't far behind with .421.  Sophomore Jessica Paolucci had a team-high 15 digs.  Freshman Gabby Pacatte finished with nine digs.

Iona's next game is its MAAC opener against the Manhattan Jaspers tomorrow evening.  First serve scheduled for 7 PM.