STORRS, CT - The Iona College volleyball team outlasted New Hampshire in a thrilling five-set win in their final contest at the 2018 UConn Challenge. Senior outside hitter Claire Archibald led the Gaels with a 22-kill, 22-dig double-double in the team's 25-16, 25-23, 25-27, 22-25, 21-19 win.
 
Archibald hit .340 posting an early season high with her 22 kills and 22 digs. She accounted for 23.5 points in the contest with an ace and assisted block. It was Archibald's fifth double-double to start the 2018 campaign.
 
Senior setter Emma Rose had her second double-double of the year with a career-best 55 assists, while matching her season-high with 10 digs. The 55 assists were one more than her previous best effort of 54 at Niagara last season. Rose added two kills and a block.
 
Redshirt junior libero Jessica Paolucci had her second-collegiate 30+ dig effort with 35 in the win. Her career-high of 41 was set as a freshman vs. Saint Peter's on October 10, 2015. She was also a stalwart on the serve receive, returning 27-of-28 attempts. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Tournament team.
 
Four other Gaels recorded double-digit point totals. Senior middle blocker Mia Bonsignore recorded 14 kills and three blocks for 16.0 total points. Her .480 hitting percentage was a season-best for the Maroon & Gold through the first two weekends. Sophomore right-side Jamie Smith posted 12 kills and 16 digs for her fourth collegiate double-double and first of the 2018 campaign. She posted an ace and two-blocks, recording 14.0 points. Junior middle blocker Karla Johnson had 11 kills and seven blocks (15.5 points) and junior outside hitter Tess Connolly posted nine kills, 15 digs, an ace and three blocks for the Maroon & Gold in the win. In addition, sophomore serve specialist Taylor Cole posted a career-high six aces.
 
The Maroon & Gold took a 2-0 advantage after the first two sets, cruising to a 25-17 win in the opener and holding off the Wildcats 25-23 in set two. Sets three and four belonged to New Hampshire to even the match at 2-2. In the fifth Iona held match point at 14-2 before back-to-back attack errors led to a tie score. Each team traded the next 12 points of the match before Johnson ended the match with a kill.
 
Iona will have an 11-day break in action before its 2018 home opener vs. Central Connecticut at the Hynes Center on Wednesday, September 12. The two teams square off in a match that can be seen live on ESPN+.