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Box Score

Saint Peter's SPU 3-24, 1-14 MAAC

Iona College ION 4-21, 4-11 MAAC

Saint Peter's SPU

3-24, 1-14 MAAC

Final

Nov. 06, 2019

Iona College ION

4-21, 4-11 MAAC

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Saint Peter's SPU	20	22	28	21	(1)
Iona College ION	25	25	26	25	(3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | 11/6/2019 10:59:00 PM | Jonathan Stanko

Three Gaels With Double-Doubles In Iona VB Win Against Saint Peter's

Juran, Connolly and Smith each with double-doubles

Next Match:

Manhattan

11/9/2019 | 1:00 PM

Next Match

Full Schedule

Nov. 09 (Sat) / 1:00 PM

Manhattan

History

Recap
Roster

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College volleyball program survived a scare and won in four sets (25-20, 25-22, 26-28, 21-25) against Saint Peter's University in the Hynes Athletics Center on Wednesday night. The Gaels suffered a tough third set loss, but bounced back to close out the match and secure the regular season sweep against the Peacocks.

MATCH SUMMARY

The Maroon & Gold and Peacocks battled through four sets with 25 ties and nine lead changes.

In the opening set, the Gaels were feeding junior Jamie Smith as much as they could. The 2018 All-MAAC Second Team honoree had 15 swings and four kills in the first set. Her final kills of the set gave the Maroon & Gold a 1-0 lead with a 25-20 first set decision. The turning point of the opening game came in its conclusion; the Gaels closed on a 5-1 run, begun by a pair of back-to-back kills by senior Tess Connolly.

Sophomore Alessandra Brady had four blocks in the first set. Senior Jessica Paolucci had a match-best seven digs in the first set. As a team, the Maroon & Gold hit a match-high .295 hitting percentage.

Iona jumped out early in the second set. Senior Julia Stewart killed one to give the Maroon & Gold a 10-4 lead. The Peacocks flew back into it with a six-point run to take a 16-12 lead. Junior Taylor Cole, serve specialist, was just what the doctor ordered. She served four straight points and allowed Iona to retake a 17-16 lead. The Peacocks tied it just one of the close of the second set, but they made three errors in the closing stretch to allow Iona to take the set, 25-22.

Connolly and Smith both had five kills in the second set. The Gaels had a match-best 23 digs as a team, led by six from Smith. Iona hit .275 in the set; Connolly and Smith had their 10 kills on 21 swings.

Saint Peter's showed immense resiliency in the third set. It overcame an early six-point deficit and fended out four match points in a set that accumulated nine tie scores and three lead changes. Iona's largest lead of the match was six at 12-6. Following a kill by Danielle Lopez, the Peacocks served it up to Carolina Ruiz. Saint Peter's rattled off five straight and tied the game at a dozen. The Gaels then led 18-14 and 23-19, but it wasn't enough to put away the visitor. Iona lost the set, 28-26, on one the Peacocks' three aces in the set.

Iona had five aces in the set; three from Smith and two from Cole. Smith was held in check offensively with just one kill on five swings. The Gaels hit .081 as a team, which was a match-low. Alanis Alvarado, who was dominant for Saint Peter's all match, seven kills and five digs.

Iona trailed through the first half of the fourth set, but Cole stepped up to the service line and changed the tenure again. Cole had served three straight points, including two aces, to tie the score at 10. Back in the flow of trading points, the Gaels took the lead 12-11 and shoot propelled it to 18-14. Saint Peter's scored three straight points with Karla Seda serving to tie it at 18. The Maroon & Gold without the final run and closed out the match on a 4-1 run. Senior Karla Johnson ended the match with her 10^th kill of the match.

In the fourth set, Smith was a monster defensively with nine digs and two blocks. She also had a team-high three kills. Four additional Gaels had two kills each.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Smith finished the match leading the Gaels with 13 kills, 19 digs, five blocks and 19.0 blocks. She now has a team-leading eight double-doubles this season
Connolly notched her first double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs. It is her first match with double-digit kills this season.
Freshman Samantha Juran collected her third double-double of the season with 32 assists and 13 digs. Both a new career-highs.
Paolucci led four different Gaels who had double-digit kills. She collected 23 and contributed six assists.
Johnson had six blocks. Smith, Brady and rookie Julia Thomas each had five blocks.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

Iona stretches its winning streak against Saint Peter's to nine matches. The Gaels are 14-2 at home against the Peacocks.
Wednesday night was the first time Saint Peter's won a set against Iona since October 15, 2016.
Iona's 54 kills is tied for a season-best in a win this season. The Gaels also had 54 kills against Siena on October 20.
The Maroon & Gold's 10 aces is its best total in a MAAC game this season, and second highest total of the season. Iona had 11 aces in a five-set loss against UNC Greensboro on September 14.

AROUND THE MAAC

Fairfield defeated Marist at home in Alumni Hall in four sets.

UP NEXT

Iona's next game is its final home game of the season. The Gaels host the Jaspers on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. looking to sweep the season series. Prior to the game, head coach Esai Velez-Perez and the Iona community will honor the program's five seniors as part of its annual senior day festivities. Saturday's match will be broadcasted on Facebook Live and there will be live stats.