JERSEY CITY, NJ - For the first time this season, the Iona College volleyball team won in three straight sets with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-21) victory at Saint Peter's this evening during MAAC play.
The Gaels (4-9, 2-1 MAAC) used nine team blocks and seven service aces in three sets towards the winning effort while freshman
Jamie Smith put forth an all-around effort of 14 assists, 14 digs, six kills, four blocks (four assisted) and one service ace.
Claire Archibald led the attack with 14 kills on .229 hitting percentage to pair with 10 digs.
Tess Connolly joined her in double-digit kills with 11.
Karla Johnson netted five blocks (one solo, four assisted) to help the defense.
Emma Rose added 16 assists to the effort.
For the Peacocks (0-13, 0-3 MAAC) three individuals posted a team-best six kills including Kali Viles, who also posted four blocks while Danielle Lopez notched nine digs. Carolina Ruiz totaled 14 assists, eight digs, three kills and two service aces.
A 7-0 run in the first set helped push a one-point advantage to eight points at 14-6 for the Maroon & Gold that included two blocks from Johnson and Smith during the run in addition to two kills from Archibald. The California native posted five kills in the set on a .556 hitting percentage that aided Iona towards a team hitting percentage of .320.
The Gaels turned a 6-3 deficit around to a 18-10 advantage to gain momentum in the second set as Archibald and Connolly evenly split eight kills to lead the wining effort. Connolly ended the set with a pair of service aces to end a 6-1 late surge from Saint Peter's.
In the final set, Iona used an 18-5 edge in kills to close out the 3-0 match win as Archibald once again added five kills while Connolly recorded four for the attack. Rose and Smith paced the offense with eight and seven assists respectively. while Smith, Johnson,
Kassandra Darnaby and Amana Gannon all posted two kills each.
The Maroon & Gold return to the Hynes Center this Saturday to welcome local and MAAC rival Manhattan for a 1:00 pm first serve.
