WEST ORANGE, NJ - The Iona University Volleyball team earned a split on the final day of the Seton Hall Tournament. The Gaels earned a four-set victory over George Mason but suffered their first loss of the 2022 season to Seton Hall. 

For the second straight weekend, Jen Soto took home All-Tournament honors after posting 24 kills and nine blocks. 

MATCH ONE RECAP: 3-1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-9, 25-19)

George Mason opened up a 10-7 lead to begin the match but with the theme  being timely scoring runs for the Gaels, Iona responded winning seven out of the next eight points. Four kills from Greta Stjade sparked the scoring stretch and with the frame leveled at 17, Stjade broke the tie for good with another kill. Iona ended the opening set on a 9-2 run and capitalized on a Patriot attack error to grab the opening set, 25-18.

 Neither team could create much separation at the start of the second set with multiple lead changes and four early ties. However, the Patriots managed to build up a 13-8 lead after consecutive attack errors from the Gaels. Trying to fight back Fleur Wiersma and Soto recorded back-to-back blocks, trimming the deficit to 14-12, but George Mason responded winning the next three points. Leading 24-17, Camille Larkin closed out the frame with a kill to even up the match at a set apiece.

The Gaels set the tone early in the third set, using their best hitting percentage of the match at .429% to jump out to a commanding 17-4 lead. The offensive attack came from all over with Wiersma, Soto, Stjade, Julia Thomas, Nerin Valasakos and Tamara Pichardo all recording points. With the lead stretching out to as much as 15, Stjade sealed the frame with a kill to bring the Gaels within a set of victory.

In impressive fashion the Gaels mounted a seven point deficit to rally after falling behind, 13-6. Still behind in the set, Wiersma registered another kill off an assist from Samantha Juran, beginning another dominated run from Iona. The Gaels closed the set on a 14-3 run and leading 24-19, an ace from Hope Matschner sealed the match for Iona. 

MATCH ONE LEADERS

• Wiersma and Soto continue to be a dominant presence at the net, combining for 13 blocks in the victory.
• Stjade led the Gaels with 13 kills marking the four straight matches reaching double figures in kills.
• Pichardo tied a career-high with five service aces. 

MATCH TWO RECAP: 0-3 (23-25, 23-25, 22-25)

In a defensive minded first-set, Matschner and Valasakos poured in a combined 12 digs, slowing down the Pirates offensive attack. Trailing 13-7, Iona won six of the following seven points to climb back into the set taking advantage of three attack errors. The Pirates responded winning five consecutive points and a kill from Taylor Jakubowski gave Seton Hall a set point. The Gaels however didn't go down quietly, fighting off four set points on two attack errors, a kill from Stjade and an ace from Juran. Unfortunately Seton Hall closed out the opening frame on the following point to grab the early lead.

Neither team managed to create any separation in a second set that saw four lead changes and 13 ties. Iona used a 7-1 run to take an 8-6 lead with kills from Mackenzie Wiggins, Stajde and Wiersma during the stretch that forced a Seton Hall timeout. From there both teams traded points with clutch kills from Wiersma and Morgan Madasz leveling the set at 18 and 22. However Seton Hall won three of the final four points to take a two set advantage.

Consecutive kills from Wiersma gave the Gaels an early 4-3 lead but the Pirates recorded seven of the next nine points to retake control. Similar to all match, the Gaels fought back and an ace from Pichardo cut the deficit to 16-14 but an important swing saw Seton Hall answer winning the next three points. Down 21-18, Stjade recorded her final kill of the day and brought Iona within two once again but Seton Hall wouldn't allow Iona to get any closer and closed out the match on a service error.

MATCH TWO LEADERS

• Wiersma and Stjade combined for 15 kills, finishing with eight and seven. 
• Matschner poured in a match-high 21 digs. 

UP NEXT

The Gaels will hit the road again to compete in the Northeastern tournament next weekend where they'll play Georgia, Northeastern and Harvard. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Be sure to follow Iona College athletics on all social media platforms:
ICGaels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)
Iona Volleyball: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Email Updates)