LEWISTON, NY - Despite dropping the opening frame, the Iona University volleyball team rallied to win the final three-sets and earn the four-set victory (19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23) at the Gallagher Center on Saturday afternoon. Fleur Wiersma and Emma Jacobs each recorded career-highs powering Iona's offense en-route to the Gaels earning their 10th conference win of the season.

Match SUMMARY

Set 1 (19-25)

Kills from Wiersma, Jen Soto, and Elena Bianchi paced the offense to begin the match, with neither school managing to create separation. Following a kill from Jacobs, Wiersma poured in an ace to give Iona a 13-12 lead, but Niagara responded on a 7-2 run, to regain control. Jacobs and Wiersma chipped in late kills but trailing 23-19, the Gaels committed consecutive errors, giving the Purple Eagles the opening set.

Set 2 (25-23)

Niagara won five out of the first six points to start the second, but a 9-4 stretch brought the Gaels back into the lead. Greta Stjade and Rose Porter contributed to the run with back-to-back kills and another swing by Wiersma, breaking the 9-9 tie. From there both teams exchanged leads but following a 6-2 run from the Purple Eagles, the Gaels fell behind 21-18, and were in danger of going down two sets. However, multiple kills from Wiersma and Jacobs changed the trajectory of the set and match, sparking a 7-2 run to end the frame. Following a timeout from Niagara, Soto closed out the set on a kill, bringing the match to a set apiece.

Set 3 (25-23)

Leveled at 6, Iona managed to pull ahead following a 7-3 stretch that began on a kill from Bianchi and ended with a kill from Jacobs. The Gaels stretched the lead to 17-12 following back-to-back kills from Wiersma but Niagara countered winning the following four points. Continuing to trade min-runs, Iona countered winning the next four points and after an attack-error from Niagara, the Gaels had an opportunity to serve it out, leading 24-20. The Purple Eagles managed to fight off three set-points but Jacobs put the set away with a clutch kill that brought Iona within a set of the win.

Set 4 (25-23)

After a kill from Bianchi, Iona led 7-5 but Niagara regained the lead following a 7-1 stretch, taking advantage of four errors from Iona. Trailing 15-12, Iona's offense poured in four kills to deadlock the set, with key swings coming from Wiersma, Bianchi, Julia Thomas and Jacobs. Both teams traded leads and following a kill from Stjade Iona went back in front 21-20 but Niagara answered, using three late kills to take a 23-22 lead. With the Purple Eagles two points away from forcing a decider, Iona buckled down winning the final three points of the match to close out the hard fought victory. Similar to the third-set, Jacobs sealed the match with a kill to clinch the road win for the Gaels.

STAT LEADERS

ON OFFENSE

• Wiersma (17) and Jacobs (15) each recorded career-high in kills. 
• Tamara Pichardo (26) and Samantha Juran (12) accounted for 38 of Iona's 50 assists. 
• Bianchi (7) Stjade (6) and Soto (5) rounded out the Gaels offensive attack.

ON DEFENSE

• Hope Matschner led the defensive efforts, pouring in a match-best 42 digs, marking the third time this season the libero has reached 40 digs. 
• Stjade (16) and Porter (8) each recorded a season-high 16 digs to round out a balanced defensive effort from the Gaels.

UP NEXT:

Iona will play their final road match of the 2022 regular season tomorrow afternoon, at 1:00 pm against Canisius.

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