LORETTO, PA – The Iona College volleyball team dropped the final two matches of the of the Red Flash Classic on Saturday.  Eastern Kentucky and Saint Francis (PA) both swept the Gaels in straight sets.  The Gaels have just one non-conference game remaining against NJIT on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

In game one, the Colonels swept the Maroon & Gold in straight sets (26-24. 25-18, 12-25).  Sophomore Claire Archibald had a team-high seven kills in the opening day two contest against Eastern Kentucky.  Sophomores Emma Rose and Kait Ferretti each had 11 assists.  Rose and Archibald chipped in six and three digs apiece.  Sophomore Jessica Paolucci recorded a team-high 13 digs.

The Gaels had a team-best .143 hitting percentage in the second set.

The host Red Flash defeated Iona in straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-19) to conclude the weekend of competition.  Saint Francis (PA) used a decisive .279 to .147 hitting percentage to push itself to victory.

Junior Kassandra Darnaby led Iona with nine kills against the Red Flash.  Sophomore Mia Bonsignore and junior Shaina Campbell each had four kills, and Archibald finished with five kills and nine digs.  Paolucci led the Gaels with 18 digs.

Senior Karly White had two service aces and one solo block.  She added one six kills one dig.

Freshman Tess Connolly was named to the Red Flash Classic All-Tournament Team.  She had a team-high 12 kills and seven digs in the tournament opening match against Navy.  Against Eastern Kentucky she had six kills and four digs.   Connolly ended the weekend with seven digs and a service against Saint Francis (PA).

Iona begins the bulk of the MAAC schedule on Saturday, Sept. 24 against Quinnipiac.