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Iona University Athletics

VB Recap 10/1
Stockton Photo Inc.
0
Canisius Canis 5-9,3-2 MAAC
3
Winner Iona Iona 9-6,4-1 MAAC
Canisius Canis
5-9,3-2 MAAC
0
Final
3
Iona Iona
9-6,4-1 MAAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Canisius Canis 24 19 23 (0)
Iona Iona 26 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Jack Ravitz

Iona VB Earns Third Straight Win With Sweep Over Canisius

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona Volleyball program earned its third straight victory, defeating Canisius in three-sets (26-24, 25-19, 25-23) at home on Saturday afternoon. The Gaels earned their first win over Canisius since the 2018 MAAC Championships, snapping a six-game skid. With the win, Iona improved to 9-6 and 4-1 in MAAC play, which equals the best start to conference play since the 2018 championship season.

Match SUMMARY

Set 1 (26-24)

The Gaels jumped out to a quick 8-1 start, powered by early kills from Mackenzie Wiggins, Fleur Wiersma, and Nerin Valasakos. The lead stretched to nine after Jen Soto poured in a kill, assisted by Samantha Juran but the Golden Griffs used a 9-2 run to trim the lead to 23-22. Valasakos chipped in a kill to give Iona two set-points but a kill from Taylor Baldwin and an error from Iona, leveled the set at 24. The Gaels answered, winning the next two points on kills from Elena Bianchi and Wiggins to close out the opening set.

Set 2 (25-19)

Three early kills from Bianchi fueled the Gaels to another fast start, this time jumping out to a 10-3 lead. Canisius got within two points at 18-16, but Iona responded winning five out of the next six points to regain control of the frame. Four consecutive kills from Greta Stjade, Wiggins and Soto catapulted the important run for the Maroon & Gold. Leading 24-19, Bianchi closed out the frame on a kill to pull Iona within a set of the victory. 

Set 3 (25-23)

Back-to-back kills from Valasakos and Wiersma pushed Iona to a 7-3 advantage but that lead was trimmed to 11-10, following a 7-4 stretch from the visitors. Like all match, anytime the Golden Griffs got within a point, the Gaels answered, this time rattling off four of the next five points, powered by two kills from Soto. In the late stages of the set Canisius had one last surge in them, winning five straight points to cut the deficit to, 22-21. Bianchi and Valasakos countered the run with clutch kills on the following two points to give Iona three match-points. After Canisius fought off the first two, a service error gave the Gaels the set and clinched the victory.

STAT LEADERS

ON OFFENSE

  • Wiggins (13) and Soto (10) led the offensive attack for the Gaels with Bianchi (9)  Valasakos (8) and Wiersma (7) finishing right behind them.
  • Tamara Pichardo (26) and Juran (19) contributed to 45 of Iona's 48 assists.
  • Wiersma and Bianchi each finished with three blocks appiece 

ON DEFENSE

  • Hope Matschner, continuing her stellar efforts at Libero, poured in a match-high 28 digs.
  • Pichardo reached double-figures with 10 digs to record her first double-double of the season.
  • Wiggins (9) and Valasakos (8) digs rounded out the defensive efforts for Iona in the victory.

UP NEXT:

The Gaels will look to push their home winning to streak to nine games, tomorow afternoon at 1:00 pm against Niagara. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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IonaGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Volleyball: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)


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