RIVERDALE, NY – The first set was contentious but Iona upped its ante come the second and third frames in route to a clean sweep (25-23, 25-18, 25-15) decision over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Manhattan. Senior
Karla Johnson led the Gaels with 12 kills, four total blocks and 14.5 points.
GAME SUMMARY
Iona and Manhattan combined for 17 attack errors in the first set, but the Maroon & Gold had 10 more attack attempts than the Jaspers. The extra opportunities allowed Iona to cover for its 10 attack errors. The Gaels had 13 kills with a 0.061 hitting percentage.
The opening frame began with the Maroon & Gold vaulting out to a 10-3 lead. Manhattan was able to crawl back into it, eventually taking a 19-18 lead. A Jasper attack error knotted the game, and eventually Iona retook command and closed out the set, 25-23, with a kill by
Karla Johnson and ace from junior
Jamie Smith.
In the second set, the offensive proficiency margin increased. Iona hit .192 while Manhattan struggled hitting -0.080. The Gaels had a four blocks and were also the beneficiary of five Jasper service errors.
Back-and-forth Iona and Manhattan went at the start of the second set. The Gaels never allowed the Jaspers to gather a lead, but the margin remained two until halfway through the set. A six-point spurt with Johnson serving pushed Iona ahead 22-15. The last three points in Iona's 25-18 victory were Manhattan miscues.
Iona had a team-best 16 kills in the third set and a .244 hitting percentage. Manhattan had just seven kills and a .000 hitting percentage.
Junior
Taylor Cole's serving prowess pushed Iona head 14-6 in the third set. After a Manhattan timeout, the Jaspers scored three of the next four points to try and rally, but the effort was futile. Rookie Julie Thomas had back-to-back kills off assists from fellow rookie
Samantha Juran. The momentum carried forward as Iona's steadiest offensive player in the match, Johnson, delivered a pair of kills to end the 25-15 deciding set.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Thomas had a career-best day. The freshman had a season-high eight kills, 11 points and five blocks. She previously had five blocks in one other match, the season-opener against Rhode Island on Aug. 31.
- Sophomore Cassandra Patsos and senior Tess Connolly had seven kills each.
- Rookie Samantha Juran had 25 assists and three assists. Cole had a team-high three assists.
- Redshirt senior libero Jessica Paolucci had 10 digs. Connolly led the Maroon & Gold with 12.
- The Jaspers did not have a single set with a positive hitting percentage; they hit .000 in the first and third sets, and -.0.080 in the second.
- Both of Iona's wins this season have come in three sets against league opponents
AROUND THE MAAC
- Fairfield won in straight sets against Saint Peter's in New Jersey
- Niagara took down Siena with a sweep at The ARC
- Rider defended home court with a 3-0 win against Quinnipiac
- Canisius battled through with a five-set win at Marist
UP NEXT
Iona's next match will be the first athletics event held in the upgraded Hynes Athletics Center. The Gaels host Rider on Wednesday, Oct., 16 at 7 p.m. The Maroon & Gold look at avenge a loss a three-set loss to the Broncs back on Sept. 21 in the MAAC opener.
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