LEWISTON, NY – The Iona College volleyball program fell in straight sets (21-25, 28-30, 13-25) to Niagara University on Saturday afternoon. The Purple Eagles second set comeback was the deciding moment as they complete the season sweep against the Maroon & Gold. The Gaels were led by junior
Jamie Smith who had a team-high 10 kills and 12 digs.
MATCH SUMMARY
Iona fell behind early in the first set but were able to bounce back and take a 7-5 lead. Niagara didn't relent and soon they retook the advantage, 9-8. The Purple Eagles remained in front for the remainder of the set took a one-set lead, 25-21. The Gaels got back within one, 21-20, but a pair of errors by the Maroon & Gold allowed Niagara to regain momentum.
Iona had 12 kills and on 44 attack attempts in the opening frame. Niagara had eight kills and a 0.063 hitting percentage. The Purple Eagles on the first set despite committing three service errors and having three ball handling errors.
The second-set was Iona's back-breaker. Junior
Taylor Cole served up a fantastic run for the Gaels, scoring six straight points. Iona led 14-9 and looked prime to tie the match. A separate four-point run soon-after pushed the Maroon & Gold in front, 18-10. Niagara crawled back into it through a combination of strong attacks and Iona errors. The Gaels regained the serve leading 22-18, but a quick side-out eventually pushed things closer for Niagara.
Caroline Leitch of Niagara put away a kill that tied the second set at 24. Mary Redl-Harge then put the Purple Eagles ahead, 25-24. The Gaels battled off one set point, two set points, but back-to-back Iona attacking errors allowed for Niagara to emerge with the 30-28 decision.
The Maroon & Gold hit .000 in the second set with 13 kills and 13 attack errors. Niagara had 11 kills and seven attack errors. The Gaels had five ball handling errors and could not convert on four Purple Eagles service errors.
With the winds out of their sails, the Gaels dropped the third set, 25-13. The Purple Eagles went on an 8-0 stretch in the third that pushed margin to eleven, from which the Maroon & Gold cold not recover.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- Iona's Smith and Niagara's Jaycie Roberts and Redl-Harge each had a match-high 10 kills.
- Cole had three of the Gaels seven total aces. Iona also had 10 service errors as a team.
- Freshman Samantha Juran had a team-high 18 assists and nine digs.
- Smith registered a double-double with 12 digs to go along with her 10 kills.
- Senior Karla Johnson had eight kills, two solo blocks, two block assists and 11 points. She had a .294 hitting percentage.
- 27 attack errors is the highest total for Iona since Sept. 29, when the Gaels and Purple Eagles last matched up at the Monroe Athletic Complex.
- Iona tied a season-best with four solo blocks, tying the same effort against Siena which it had last match. It's for assisted blocks is tied for the second-fewest this season.
- Niagara has swept the season series against Iona for the first time since 2016. The Purple Eagles have a 20-16 all-time record against Iona.
AROUND THE MAAC
- Fairfield swept Quinnipiac in Hamden, CT.
- Canisius held home-court against Manhattan in three sets.
- Rider defeated Marist on the road in Poughkeepsie, NY in three sets.
- The only match to go more than three was Siena defeated Saint Peter's in four.
UP NEXT
Iona concludes its Western New York swing tomorrow afternoon with its match against the Canisius College Golden Griffins on Sunday, Oct. 27. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m and the Gaels can be followed via
live stats and on
ESPN+. The Maroon & Gold are aiming to avenge a four set loss to the Golden Griffs back in late September.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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