LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Iona University volleyball team came up short in four-sets (20-25, 25-20,18-25,19-25) to Rider on Wednesday night at Alumni Gym. Despite the loss, Hope Matschner poured in a new career-high 43 digs, extending her current NCAA lead to 521 total digs on the season and 6.68 D/S. 

Match SUMMARY

Set 1 (20-25)

Rider jumped out to a 11-5 advantage, capitalizing on five early attack errors, but Iona managed to get back into the set following kills from Jen Soto and Mackenzie Wiggins. Trailing 17-15, Julia Thomas and Morgan Madasz chipped in kills that capped a 13-6 run which gave Iona their first lead of the night. Madasz's fourth kill of the frame, gave Iona an 18-17 lead, but Rider responded, closing the set on a 8-2 run to grab the opening set.

Set 2 (25-20)

Despite falling behind 6-0 to begin the second, kills from Madasz, Thomas and Wiggins propelled a 9-4 run, quickly pulling Iona within a point. A stretch of three consecutive kills from Wiggins gave the Gaels their first lead of the set and after Nerin Valasakos poured in a kill, the lead grew to 19-16. Soto poured in two late kills, the first giving Iona a set point at 24-19, and after the Broncs fought off the first set point, Soto closed out the frame on the following point, with a kill to even the match a set apiece.

Set 3 (18-25)

Kills from Madasz, Elena Bianchi and Wiggins helped pace the Gaels offense to begin the third set as both teams exchanged leads with neither managing to create separation. Soto gave the Gaels a 15-13 lead following a kill but Rider countered, using a 7-1 run to gain control of the decisive frame. Down 24-17, Bianchi fought off a set-point with a kill but Tori Schrader gave Rider a two sets to one lead, following a kill.

Set 4 (19-25)

Trailing 16-10, the Gaels managed to erase a six-point deficit to climb back into the fourth set with swings from Madasz, Greta Stajde and Bianchi catapulting the 6-1 run. Late kills from Bianchi and Wiggins kept Iona within striking distance but the Broncs answered, ending the match on a 5-1 run to seal the four-set victory, as Iona and Rider split the season series. 

STAT LEADERS

• Samantha Juran (22 assists and 12 digs) and Wiggins (13 kills and 16 digs) both poured in a double-double in the losing effort.
• Madasz (12) Soto (9) and Bianchi (12) rounded out the offensive attack.
• For the second straight match, Emma Vu recorded 20 or more assists, finishing with 21 tonight

UP NEXT:

The Gaels return home this weekend where they'll play against Marist and Siena with both matches being played at the Meyer Athletic Center in Bronxville.

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