NEW ROCHELLE, NY- The Iona College volleyball program closed out it's regular season schedule with a come from behind five set (22-25, 12-25, 25-10, 25-17,15-8) victory over Quinnipiac at the Hynes Center. Prior to the match, head coach
Esai Velez-Perez and Director of Athletics
Matthew Glovaski honored the program's three seniors
Maile Powell,
Alessandra Brady and
Cassandra Patsos.
The Match
Set 1 (22-25)
The match started with a kill from junior
Fleur Wiersma and followed by an attack error giving Iona the quick advantage. The Bobcats settled in and took an 11-7 lead powered by a stretch where they won seven out of ten points. Iona answered and trailing 13-12, two consecutive kills from sophomores
Jen Soto and
Emma Jacobs put the Gaels back in front. From that point, both schools exchanged leads but it was Quinnipiac who created separation late and tied at 23, the Bobcats won two straight points to take the opening frame.
Set 2 (12-25)
Continuing momentum, Quinnipiac jumped out to an 8-1 lead to start the second set, forcing Iona to call timeout. The fast start propelled the Bobcats as they stayed in front, expanding their lead to double-figures. Leading 24-12, Alexandra Tennon closed out the set with a kill giving Quinnipiac a two set to nothing advantage.
Set 3 (25-10)
Looking for a spark, Iona jumped out to a 9-1 lead to start the third set with kills from freshman
Nerin Valasakos, sophomore
Kiarra Roth, Jacobs and Soto during the stretch. Quinnipiac managed to cut the deficit to four at 11-7 but after an Iona timeout, the Gaels closed out the set on an impressive 14-3 run with Valasakos earning a point off a kill to close it out.
Set 4 (25-17)
Quinnipiac managed to gain control early in the fourth set and after a kill from Maggie Baker, the Bobcats opened up a 10-3 advantage. Iona's run came soon after, trailing 14-10 the Gaels rallied off eight straight points with six coming on kills to take a 18-14 lead. The pivotal run put the Gaels in the driver seat and leading 24-17, freshman
Gia Skenderi closed it out with an ace, bringing us to a fifth and final set.
Set 5 (15-8)
After a kill from Valasakos Iona led 4-1, however Quinnipiac managed to win five out of the next six points putting the Bobcats in front, 6-5. Following a timeout the Gaels won the ensuing six points, using this pivotal fifth set run to put the Maroon & Gold in front for good. After a kill from Patsos giving Iona a match point at 14-8, sophomore
Samantha Juran sealed the match with an ace giving the Gaels the victory.
A key component to the comeback victory was after hitting a combined 16 errors in the opening two sets, Iona only had two errors the rest of the match, and had zero errors in both the fourth and final set.
STAT LEADERS
ON OFFENSE:
Three Gaels finished with double-figures in kills with Patsos leading the way with 12 and Valasakos and Jacobs pouring in 10 each. Sophomore Pichardo finished with a match-high 25 assist and Juran rounded up 20 in the winning effort.
ON DEFENSE:
Fresh off her career-high, sophomore
Hope Matschner had match-best 33 digs and Patsos finished with 14 giving the outside hitter her seventh double-double of the season.
UP NEXT:
The Gaels will gear up for the MAAC Volleyball Championships where they'll enter the tournament as a 7th seed and face the 2nd seed, Rider University. First round action is schedule for Friday, November 19th in Loudonville, NY.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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