RIVERDALE, NY - The Iona College volleyball team earned its third conference win in a four-set road victory (25-18, 25-23, 16-25, 25-22) at Manhattan to sweep the season series. With the win, Iona now improves to 5-10 overall and 3-4 record in MAAC play and are currently on a two-match win streak.

GAME SUMMARY

Similar to their first meeting the Gaels jumped in front, grabbing the first two sets of the match. In the opening frame, after being knotted at 6-6, Iona took control with a 9-3 run to open a 15-9 lead. The Gaels capitalized on 10 Manhattan errors, with five of them decisive stretch. Senior Cassandra Patsos sealed the first set with a kill giving Iona the first frame, 25-18. Patsos boosted Iona early as she led the charge offensively for the Maroon & Gold with six of her team-high 13 kills coming in the opening frame.

The Jaspers and the Gaels battled throughout a thrilling back-and-forth second set. Manhattan took advantage of five errors from Iona leading to the Jaspers taking a 12-7 advantage. Iona quickly recovered and got itself back into the set with a 5-2 run, catapulted from kills by Patsos and junior Fleur Wiersma . Iona came from behind again later in the set.  Trailing 20-16, the Gaels rallied for six of the next eight points. Freshman Nerin Valasakos, and sophomore Jen Soto contributed with kills and senior Maile Powell added an ace that tied it at 22-22. Iona closed out the set on three straight points via attack errors from the Jaspers and despite trailing throughout the majority of the frame, the Gaels took the second set, 25-23.

In danger of getting swept in both matches, Manhattan locked in on their home floor to take the third set. Iona had a 2-1 lead but a 6-0 run from Jaspers changed the momentum. Strong play from Kelly Markowski pouring in six of her game-high14 kills, helped Manhattan remain in control. Manhattan closed the set on consecutive kills from Lizzi Brown to win decisively, 25-16.  Unfortunately for the Gaels they dug themselves into a hole in the set with 11 errors and their lowest single-set hitting percentage of .086.

Set four was a nail-biter with seven ties throughout the frame. Both teams traded mini-runs early, leading to the set to a deadlocked once again at 17-17. Iona created separation after a kill from Patsos and two crucial aces from junior Samantha Juran, giving the Maroon & Gold a 23-19 lead. However, the Jaspers wouldn't go down easily, winning three straight points punctuated by a kill from Erin Hoener. With the lead cut to 23-22, Iona buckled down and won the last two points of the match as sophomore Emma Jacobs wanted zero part of a potential of third straight five-setter, ending the match with a kill and sealing the victory for Iona.

The fourth and final set took a total team contribution of six different Gaels recording kills in the frame, for Iona to pull out the set and most importantly the win.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Sophomore Hope Matschner recorded 20 or more digs four the fourth time in the last five matches, pouring in a match-high 24 digs on the afternoon. Valasakos added eight kills with Soto and Jacobs right behind with seven apiece. Powell posted a season-high 13 digs and Juran led Iona with 36 assists in the win.

UP NEXT

Iona returns to play on Wednesday, October 13, for a mid-week matchup vs. Saint Peters at the Hynes Center on ESPN+. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA