NEW ROCHELLE, NY – After dropping the first two sets of the contest, the Iona University volleyball stormed back to win a thrilling reverse sweep in five sets against Manhattan in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Center.  The Gaels defeated the Jaspers 22-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, and 15-8 behind senior Morgan Madasz's team-high 16 kills.  The Maroon & Gold swept the season series against its nearby league rival.

SET 1: IONA 22, MANHATTAN 25

Iona and Manhattan went back and forth in the set, highlighted by 15 ties and seven lead changes until 16-16. Freshman Ezzie Thompson led this stretch in with four kills, while seniors Jen Soto and Madasz, sophomore Mackenzie Wiggins and rookie Ava DeGuzman each recorded two. The Jaspers gained the lead at 17-16 and scored four of the next five points to earn a four point advantage. Iona got within two at 22-20 but the Jaspers held control to win the set by three.

SET 2: IONA 22, MANHATTAN 25

Manhattan gained a 5-0 lead early in the second set. Iona stormed back to bring the contest within two, 8-6, behind a kill from Soto and Wiggins and a DeGuzman ace. The Jaspers countered with a 7-4 run to lead by five once more, 15-10. The Gaels rallied to gain a 19-17 lead, with Madasz and Thompson's two kills leading the charge. Manhattan scored the final four points of the set to earn the win. Five different Gaels earned multiple kills.

SET 3: IONA 25, MANHATTAN 17

Iona earned a 4-1 lead to start the early stages of the third set with two kills from Madasz and one from DeGuzman. The lead was extended to 9-5, with Thompson, senior Nerin Valasakos and Wiggins recording individual kills beside Madasz' third kill of the set. Manhattan kept it close as Iona's lead was shortened to one point, 9-8. DeGuzman's two crucial kills at this point helped the Gaels extend the lead to 15-10 as Madasz earned her fourth and fifth kills of the set and both Soto and Valasakos' added one each. After Manhattan closed within three points, the Maroon & Gold went on a 10-5 run to end the set.  Madasz had six kills and DeGuzman and Valasakos added three apiece as Iona posted 18 in the set.   Setters Emma Vu and Tamara Pichardo and libero Hope Matschner combined for all 18 assists.  Matschner added nine digs.

SET 4: IONA 25, MANHATTAN 17

Four lead changes and nine ties highlighted the early moments of the fourth set before Iona took the lead for good at 15-14. It started an 11-3 run that would even the match at two sets a piece. Wiggins posted five kills while Soto, DeGuzman and Madasz added two apiece.

SET 5: IONA 15, MANHATTAN 8

Iona never trailed following an early 6-1 lead. It extended its lead six, 10-4, and completed the reverse sweep on back-to-back aces by Wiggins.  Madasz had three kills to lead the Gaels in the finale.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Madasz posted a team-high 16 kills and hit .375, while adding three digs and an ace.
• Wiggins had 13 kills and five and five aces and completed her team-leading ninth double-double with 14 digs.
• Thompson recorded 12 kills and hit a team-high .500 on 20 attempts.
• DeGuzman posted 10 kills and a season-best 16 digs for her third double-double of the season.
• Vu posted a career-high 29 assists. She also added six digs in the context.
• Senior Tamara Pichardo recorded 25 assists and five digs.
• Senior Hope Matschner had a match-high 22 digs in the contest to run her NCAA-leading total to 633 on the season. She added nine assists and an ace in the win.

THE OPPONENT

• Maike Bertens posted a match-high 25 kills, while adding a team-high 13 digs, two assists and an ace.
• Sarah Emmons led the contest with 38 assists and added 11 digs and a team-high three aces.

TEAM STATS

• Iona hit .274 for the match with 67 kills.
• It also combined for 65 assists.
• Manhattan hit .154 with 48 kills.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will be back in action next Saturday (November 11) against Canisius University at Hynes Center for a noon first serve on ESPN+.

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