NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University volleyball team came up short, falling in four-sets (25-23, 19-25, 21-25, 23-25) to Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon at the Hynes Center. Following a 4-0 run from the Gaels, Iona found themselves two points away from forcing a decider but Quinnipiac managed to win the final three-points of the match to earn the road victory.

Match SUMMARY

Set 1 (25-23)

Emma Jacobs opened up the scoring for Iona with kills on the Gaels first two points, and her third kill of the set, brought the Gaels within three, trailing 13-10. Following an Iona attack error, the Bobcats extended their lead to 17-13, but Iona answered using a 7-1 run, to take the lead and grab control of the frame. Late kills from Jen Soto, Elena Bianchi, Jacobs, and Julia Thomas kept the Gaels in front and following an attack error, Iona closed out the opening set.

Set 2 (19-25)

Behind 6-3 in the early portion of the second, kills from Soto, Greta Stjade, and a Quinnipiac attack error, knotted the frame up. However, Aryanah Diaz poured in a kill for the Bobcats, beginning a momentum changing 11-4 run for the visitors. Quinnipiac stretched the lead to 20-13, but Iona mounted the following five points, trimming the deficit to two and forcing Quinnipiac to call a timeout. Following the stoppage of play, Quinnipiac responded, winning five of the final six points of the frame to level up the match at a set apiece.

Set 3 (23-25)

Quinnipiac began the ensuing set on a 14-5 run, and a few points later following a kill from Ginevra Giovagnoni, Quinnipiac pushed the lead to 17-9. Consecutive kills from Bianchi and Soto brought Iona within four but Quinnipiac countered pushing the lead back to seven, 21-14. Iona kept fighting back and after Bianchi recorded a kill Iona got within three, capping a 7-3 run for the Gaels, but on the next point, Yagmur Gunes ended the frame with a kill, pulling Quinnipiac within a set of the victory.

Set 4 (23-25)

Both teams exchanged points in the fourth, with neither team managing to create any separation. Multiple kills from Mackenzie Wiggins and Jacobs paced the offense and following an ace from Wiersma, the frame was deadlocked at 14-14. Quinnipiac managed a mini 6-2 run, but Iona responded with a fierce 7-2 run to retake the lead in the defining moments of the set. Unfortunately, following a timeout Quinnipiac managed to close out the set and match winning the final three points of the afternoon. 

Leaders

• Hope Matschner poured in a match-high 30 digs and Stjade recorded a season-high 17 digs to lead the defense.
• Jacobs (12), Soto (11) and Wiersma (9) led a balanced offensive attack despite the loss.
•  Samantha Juran (21) Tamara Pichardo (13) and Emma Vu (10) attributed for 44 of Iona's 49 assists

UP NEXT:

The Gaels wrap up their regular season next Saturday, November 12th against Manhattan at 1:00 pm. Prior to the match, the Gaels will honor their five seniors for senior day. 

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