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Box Score

Iona College ION 1-11, 1-1 MAAC

Saint Peter's SPU 3-9, 1-1 MAAC

Iona College ION

1-11, 1-1 MAAC

Final

Sep. 22, 2019

Saint Peter's SPU

3-9, 1-1 MAAC

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	F
Iona College ION	25	25	25	(3)
Saint Peter's SPU	20	16	21	(0)

Game Recap: Volleyball | 9/22/2019 3:50:00 PM | Jonathan Stanko

Iona Volleyball Earns First MAAC Win Against Saint Peter's

Esai Velez-Perez earns first win as head coach for the Maroon & Gold

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Canisius

9/28/2019 | 1:00 PM

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Sep. 28 (Sat) / 1:00 PM

Canisius

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JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Iona College volleyball team picked up its first win of the season on Sunday afternoon against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe, Saint Peter's University. The Gaels dominated the Peacocks in the Yanitelli Center, ending their 11-match losing streak with a straight set (25-20, 25-16, 25-21) victory.

The win is the first for head coach Esai Velez-Perez and his staff at the helm of the Maroon & Gold. Iona extends its winning streak over Saint Peter's to eight matches overall, and six-straight with the three-set broom.

MATCH RECAP

Iona and Saint Peter's see-sawed in the first portion of the first set. Neither team held an advantage of more than three points until Iona used a 5-1 run to take a 19-15. Alanis Alvarado brought Saint Peter's back within two, 22-20, but the last three points of the set were tallied toward the Gaels. A Peacocks service error, Jamie Smith kill and Tess Connolly ace secured a 25-20 opening set win. The Gaels hit a prosperous .444 in the first set and had 19 kills, both single-set bests this season.

In the second set, a service ace from sophomore Maile Powell gave Iona an 11-6 lead. The Gaels controlled the temp from the onset of the game, eventually ballooning its led to 20-10 with a kill by senior Karla Johnson. Rookie Julia Thomas put the finishing touches on the Maroon & Gold's most convincing set-win of the season, 25-16. The Gaels had five blocks and therefor limited the Peacocks to a .091 hitting percentage. Saint Peter's had eight more attack than Iona in the set, but the Maroon & Gold still had 13 kills compared to 11 for the home team.

In the third set, the Gaels put away the victory with 15 kills and a .225 hitting percentage. Iona had two separate 10-point leads in the frame at 16-6 and 17-7. Saint Peter's closed within three, 21-18, but Smith kyboshed the comeback with a key kill on an assist by Paolucci. A second rebuttal was needed when the Peacocks scored three straight to get within one, 22-21, but sophomore Cassandra Patsos again quieted the home crowd with her 10^th kill of the match to win the serve back. The scoreboard finished reading Iona 25-Saint Peter's 21 in the third and final set.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

Iona set new season bests in kills (47), hitting percentage (.304), assists (45), and block assists (18). It tied season-highs with 62.0 points and nine total blocks.
The Gaels limited the Peacocks to an opponent-low in kills (32) hitting percentage (.139) and points (39.0). Saint Peter's' eight blocking errors is the most by an Iona opponent this season.
Johnson led the Maroon & Gold with 12 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Smith and sophomore Cassandra Patsos also had double-digit kills, 10 each.
Powell set a new collegiate career-high 35 assists. Rookie Samantha Juran and redshirt senior Jessica Paolucci had five assists each. Powell missed a double-double by one dig.
Paolucci led all players with 15 digs. Connolly had 10 digs in addition to five kills.
Saint Peter's was led offensively by Alanis Alvarado who had 12 kills and a .122 hitting percentage. She had 10 digs as well. Wildalys Soto had 23 assists and Karia Seda had 13 digs.

AROUND THE MAAC

Rider defeated Manhattan in four sets in Riverdale, NY.
Fairfield took down Siena on the road in four sets.
Marist defended home court at McCann Arena against the Bobcats, 3-1.

UP NEXT

MAAC play continues for Iona on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Gaels host the Canisius Golden Griffs in New Rochelle, NY at the local Monroe Athletic Complex in New Roc City. On Sunday, Sept. 29, Niagara takes on the Maroon & Gold to complete the home weekend series against the Western New York teams.
Iona is playing at the Monroe Athletic Complex while the renovations to the Hynes Athletics Center are unfolding. The first game in the new arena will be on Wednesday, Oct. 16 against Rider at 7 p.m.