LOUDONVILLE, NY - The Iona College volleyball program season came to an end in a four set (22-25, 25-17,19-25,19-25) defeat to the second seeded Rider Broncs on Friday evening. The seventh seeded Gaels put together a valiant effort, making it's strongest push in the second set but ultimately came up short in the opening round of the MAAC Tournament.

The Match

Set 1 (22-25)

To start the match Iona had several leads and after sophomore Jen Soto recorded a kill, the Gaels had their last lead of the set at 11-10. Rider managed to go on a 8-4 run, opening up an 18-15 advantage but the Gaels responded, winning three consecutive points after an ace from junior Samantha Juran tied it at 18. Three kills down the stretch from Rider's Morgan Romano and five service errors gave Rider the edge in the set and leading 24-22, an Iona attack error gave the Broncs the first set. 

Set 2 (25-17)

Tied at 5, Iona created separation after two kills from senior outside hitter Cassandra Patsos gave the Gaels an 8-5 lead, putting them up for good in the set. After Rider recorded a kill to come within a point, Iona used a 6-1 run to extend the lead to five, with kills coming from junior Fleur Wiersma and senior Alessandra Brady. The offensive rhythm helped Iona stay in front, recording a match-best .333 hitting percentage on 12 kills and only two errors helping Iona build the lead to seven. Leading 24-17, a service error from Rider on the following point, gave Iona the second set to even up the quarterfinal match at a set apiece.

Set 3 (19-25)

Sophomore Emma Jacobs opened the scoring in the third set with a kill, but the Broncs answered, winning the ensuing four points, forcing Iona to call a timeout. Following the timeout, a kill from Soto cut the deficit to one, but a 4-0 stretch from Rider gave the Broncs a 9-4 lead and control of the set. Rider managed to stay in front for the duration of the frame and leading 16-12, another 4-0 stretch enlarged the lead for the two seeded Rider up to eight. Trailing 22-13, Iona rallied off three consecutive points after a kill from Wiersma, but Rider's advantage was too much to overcome and leading 24-19, a kill from Jillian Chan gave the Broncs the set.  

Set 4 (19-25)

Tailing 4-2, Wiersma, Soto and Brady all recorded points off of kills to even up the fourth set a 5. After multiple kills from Romano Rider led 9-6, but a 4-2 stretch brought the Gaels within one point down 11-10. Unfortunately a timely 6-1 run from Rider put the Broncs in control the remainder of the set, opening up a 17-11 advantage. Gaels certainly wouldn't bow out easily and after Patsos collected a kill the lead was trimmed to 19-16 but Rider was able to settle down and leading 24-19, an attack error from Iona gave Rider the match and earned them a spot in tomorrow's semifinals.

Iona ends it's season with an overall record of 10-18, finishing 8-10 in MAAC play which both rank the most wins since the 2018 season. 

STAT LEADERS

ON OFFENSE:

Soto led the Gaels with 11 kills on a best .435 hitting percentage with Patsos and Wiersma finishing up with nine and seven kills respectively. Brady and freshman Nerin Valasakos rounded out the offensive attack, pouring in six kills each, with five of Valasakos kills coming in the opening set. As a team Iona finished with 46 assists with 22 coming from Juran and 21 coming from sophomore Tamara Pichardo.

ON DEFENSE:

Sophomore Hope Matschner was all over the floor recording a match-high 25 digs to go along with a perfect service reception and Patsos finished with 12 digs making it the 12th time the senior has reached the double-figure mark on defense and.

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