BUFFALO, NY – The Iona College volleyball program is coming back from Buffalo empty handed as Canisius defeated the Gaels in a pair of matches at the Koessler Athletic Center. The Golden Griffins swept the Maroon & Gold in match one 3-0 (21-25, 17-25, 13-25) and withstood Iona's fight in the second for a 3-1 decision (10-25, 25-23, 23-25, 19-25). Iona's offense struggled to find any foundation on the attack during Sunday's first match. The Maroon & Gold had an attack percentage of 5.1 and only four players had positive attack percentage. In contrast the Golden Griffins hit .260 and had five players hit 25.0% of better.

It was an uphill climb for the Maroon & Gold from the jump and in the first set the climb became too much when Canisius went up 18-13. The Gaels got back within two, but the first set went the home team's way 25-21 on an Iona service error.

Iona switched up its mojo to being the second set and it paid off with an early 8-5 lead. Canisius made its first subs trailing by three and then rattled off 9-1 run to put itself ahead 14-9. The Gaels brought it back to within one at 14-13, but again the crest of the mountain was just out of reach. The Golden Griffins ended the set on a five-point run to take it, 25-17.

The Gaels fell behind early in set three, 7-1, but did not bow out quickly. A 5-1 run fueled by kills from freshman Hope Matschner and Jen Soto made it a one-point game, 12-11. Canisius won back the serve and Ashley Kekeisen ran off a string of serves that vaulted her team ahead 19-11. Four different Golden Griffins had kills in the match-deciding run. Canisius closed out match out with six straight points and captured the third set, 25-13.

The Golden Griffins scored 51 points in the match compared to 33 for Iona. The Gaels had only 26 kills compared to 45 for Canisius. The Maroon & Gold did have the edge in aces, 4-0. Iona had a season-low three blocks.

• Jamie Smith led the Gaels with seven kills on 30 swings. She also had 10 digs.
• Taylor Cole had a team-high 16 digs.
• Samantha Juran had 22 of Iona's 24 assists.
• Canisius' Hannah Nelson had 10 kills and seven digs.
• Ashley Kekeisen had a match-best 23 assists for the Golden Griffins.
• Three Canisius players had double-digit digs, let by Bree Long and her 20.

We will be brief with set one of this match. The Golden Griffins jumped out to an 8-1 lead and never looked back. After the Gaels got it to within five, 9-4, Canisius went on a seven-point run to take a 16-4 lead. The Golden Griffins held Iona to -12.2 attack percentage while hitting 31.4% themselves. Iona had five kills and 10 attack errors in the first set.

Iona's strongest set of the day was the second of match two. It is no coincidence that the Maroon & Gold jumped off to a good start and had the decisive run in its only victorious game of the afternoon. Leading 7-6, the Gaels went on a 5-1 run to take a 12-7 lead with strong play from Samantha Juran setting up her teammates and earning a kill herself. Iona's lead swelled to 15-8 with kills from Julia Thomas, Cassandra Patsos and an ace from Jamie Smith.

The Maroon & Gold did have to make things interesting, as is the Iona way. The Golden Griffins went on an 8-1 run and the set was hanging in the balance with the Gaels leading 19-18 and the home team serving. Kiarra Roth buried a kill to Griffins' run, but more work was to be done. The score was tied at 20, 21 and 23 before Iona closed out set two with kills from Smith and Patsos.

With the match tied 1-1, both programs threw multiple combos in set three. The set was tied at 15-15 when Patsos gave the Maroon & Gold a one-point lead. It'd disappear quickly. Canisius won the serve back from Iona and went on a six-point streak to take a 21-16 lead. However, Iona did not quiver. With renewed confidence from its set two win, the Gaels were able to get the game tied back up at 23-23. Unfortunately the swinging set opened in the Golden Griffins favor with a Callie Chamulak kill and a Gael attack error sealing the 25-23 final score.

Set four started with Iona netting six straight points and Canisius answering with six of its own. The score was tied at 14-14 when Camila Vasquez found a kill to give the Golden Griffins a one-point edge. Iona would not see a tie or lead for the remainder of the match. Canisius used a six-point run to take a 24-17 lead. Iona fought off two match points before Elle Shult ended the set and the match.

The Gaels had a season-high 78 digs and 12 service aces in the match. They also had a season-worst 10 reception errors. In all of Iona's losses this season they have been held to single-digit total blocks.

• Kiarra Roth led the Maroon & Gold with 14 kills and 14.5 points.
• Cassandra Patsos had eight kills and 11 digs.
• Hope Matschner continues to prove herself a stout defensive player for a freshman with 19 digs. Taylor Cole led the Gaels with 20.
• Ella Loussia was the only Canisius player with double-digit kills. She finished with 15 in the match in addition to five digs, four aces and five block assists.
• Bree Long had a match-high 24 digs for the Golden Griffins.

Iona's final regular season double-header is on Sunday, March 28 against Manhattan at the Hynes Athletics Center. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET. Both matches against the Jaspers will be aired on either ESPN3 or ESPN+. Gael Nation can also follow Iona via Live Stats and Iona athletics social media. Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
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