NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University volleyball team earned a three-set victory (25-8, 25-12, 28-26) over Saint Peter's on Sunday afternoon to improve to a perfect 5-0 at the Hynes Center this season and 3-1 in MAAC play.
Nerin Valasakos and
Mackenzie Wiggins each finished with nine kills to lead a well-rounded offensive attack in the victory.
Match SUMMARY
Set 1 (25-12)
Powered by 15 kills on an efficient 21 attacks, the Gaels jumped out to an early 11-1 lead that forced Saint Peter's to burn an early timeout. Following the timeout, Iona used a 12-2 run to extend the lead to 22-6, and a few points later, Wiggins sealed the opening set for Iona with a kill assisted from
Tamara Pichardo.
Set 2 (25-12)
Greta Stjade recorded a kill on the set's first point, and similar to the opening frame Iona wouldn't relinquish the lead. Early kills from
Fleur Wiersma,
Jen Soto, and Valasakos helped pace Iona's offense to a 10-6 lead that was shortly followed by a 10-3 stretch to break open the set.
Samantha Juran closed out the second set for Iona with a kill to bring the Gaels within a set of the conference win.
Set 3 (28-26)
The Peacocks managed to grab their first lead of the match at 5-4 and now in front 9-7, Iona answered with another timely run this time winning seven of the following eight points to grab a 14-10 advantage. Kills from
Emma Jacobs, Soto, and Wiggins sparked the run and a few points later, Iona extended their lead to five, following a kill from
Julia Thomas. Soto and
Emma Vu put the Gaels in business with a match point following consecutive kills, but Saint Peter's managed to fight off four match-points to stay alive. After the set saw it's 10th tie, leveled at 26, Soto and
Makenna Casper sealed the victory for Iona with back-to-back kills.
STAT LEADERS
- Hope Matschner poured in a match-high 15 digs along with a season-high five assists
- Pichardo (7) Juran (5) and Valasakos (5) rounded out the defensive efforts in the win
- Valasakos's nine kills were a season-high to go along with her five digs
- Soto finished with eight kills and Wiersma tallied five blocks
- 12 different Gaels recorded kills in the home victory
UP NEXT:
The Gaels return to action next Saturday, at 1:00 PM where they'll welcome in Canisius to the Hynes Center.
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