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Iona University Athletics

Mackenzie Wiggins VB
Stockton Photo Inc.
3
Winner Iona Iona 15-15,10-8 MAAC
2
Marist Marist 14-16,12-6 MAAC
Winner
Iona Iona
15-15,10-8 MAAC
3
Final
2
Marist Marist
14-16,12-6 MAAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Iona Iona 25 23 21 25 15 (3)
Marist Marist 23 25 25 21 12 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Brian Duane / Assistant AD / Athletic Communications

Iona VB Battles Back To Beat No. 3 Marist in Five Sets To Advance To MAAC Semifinal

FAIRFIELD, Conn.— After trailing two sets to one, the Iona University women's volleyball team battled back to win a five-set thriller (25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12) over three-seeded Marist in the opening round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship.

The Gaels picked up a win at the league championship for the first time since 2018 and will face two-seeded Quinnipiac in the semifinal round on Saturday, with a 6:00 p.m. first serve. Sophomore Mackenzie Wiggins led the Maroon & Gold with a double-double effort, registering 23 kills and 14 digs. senior Hope Matschner, the two-time reigning MAAC Libero of the Year recorded a match-high 29 digs. Sophomore Emma Vu dished out a team-high 26 assists.

SET 1: IONA 25, MARIST 23

The Gaels opened the match with a 7-3 advantage capped by an ace from Vu. Iona continued to lead as the opening set wore on before the Red Foxes finally punched back with a 10-1 run to retake the lead late at the set at 22-17. A service error broke up that stretch allowing Iona back on serve. The Gaels regained the lead with a 6-0 run with a kill by Wiggins giving Iona the 23-22 lead. Marist would tie thing back up on the next point but Iona closed it out the for the 25-23 set win.

SET 2: MARIST 25, Iona 23

Iona carried things over into set two, building to a 11-7 lead early. The Red Foxes got clicking offensively, using a 7-0 run to take the 14-11 lead. Marist continued to hold serve as the set wore on but the Gaels got a late jump with a four-point run to push the set score to 24-23. But Marist cut the run with set point on a kill.

SET 3: MARIST 25, Iona 21

Set three was another back in forth battle with three lead changes and five tie scorers. Both teams traded points in the half of the set before Marist used an 9-2 stretch to take a 21-14 advantage that prompted an Iona timeout. The Gaels battled back to within two at 23-21, with a 7-2 run due in part by several miscues by the Red Foxes. Marist was able to close out the set with two straight points to take a 2-1 advantage.

SET 4: IONA 25, Marist 21

Coming off two straight set wins, Marist opened the fourth with a slight 12-10 lead. A kill by senior Tamara Pichardo kicked off 6-1 run by the Gaels for the 16-13 advantage. But the Red Foxes punched back eventually tying the set up at 17-17. Iona returned the favor with a 5-1 stretch led by two kills from freshman Ezzie Thompson for a 22-18 lead. Two straight kills from Marist prompted an Iona timeout to regroup. The Gaels collected themselves, closing on a 3-1 run to push the match to the fifth set.

SET 5: IONA 15, Marist 12

Marist took an early 4-3 edge before Iona erupted for a 10-3 stretch to take a commanding lead in the final set. Senior Morgan Madasz and freshman Ava DeGuzman recorded two kills apiece during that run. After a Red Foxes point, Iona got to match point on a kill from Wiggins to put the score at 14-8. Marist showed late life with a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to two but Jen Soto sealed the match with a kill for the Maroon & Gold.

IONA PERFORMERS

  • Wiggins posted 20-plus kills for the third time in her career, she finished three kills shy of tying her career-best of 26 kills set back on September 9, 2023.
  • Freshman Sanem Bas tallied a match-high three serves aces on the night.
  • Madasz recorded eight kills and Soto along with DeGuzman registered seven kills.
  • Vu dished out 26 assists and Pichardo added 15 assists for the Maroon & Gold.
  • Matschner recorded a game-high 29 digs and Wiggins added 14 digs.
  • Thompson recorded a match-high five blocks while Madasz added four blocks and Soto contributed three blocks.

THE OPPONENT

  • Marist had three student-athletes post 20-plus kills on the evening. Sasha van den Merwe recorded a game-high 28 kills to go with 15 assists.
  • Jordan Newblatt posted 21 kills along with 20 digs and Gabriella Heimbauer tallied 20 kills and 15 digs.
  • Claire Lewis tallied a match-high 63 assists for Marist.

TEAM STATS

  • Marist hit .200 for the match with 74 kills and Iona hit .177 with 58 kills.
  • The Red Foxes recorded 69 assists and the Gaels combined for 54 assists.
  • Iona led the battle at the net with nine total blocks to the Marist, four total blocks.

UP NEXT

The Gaels are back in action tomorrow evening (November 18) against two-seeded Quinnipiac in the semifinal round of the MAAC Volleyball Championship. The contest will air at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
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