NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University volleyball team fell in three sets to Hofstra in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels (1-4) dropped their home opener 25-17, 25-19, 25-18.
SET 1:
The Pride (4-0) took the lead at 2-1 and never trailed. Sophomore
Mackenzie Wiggins led Iona with three kills and five digs in the set. The visitors outhit the Gaels. .194 - -.083.
SET 2:
After trailing 13-8 in the middle frame, the Maroon & Gold went on an 8-3 run to even the set at 16-16. Hofstra scored nine of the final 12 points to earn the 25-19 set win. Senior
Jen Soto had five of the Gaels eight kills in the set and hit .500 with no errors in 10 attempts.
SET 3:
Hofstra again led early, and Iona came back to even the score. The home team used an 8-4 run to even the frame at 16-16. Like the second set the Pride closed out strong with 10 of the last 13 points. The Gaels posted their best hitting percentage of the match with a .167. Wiggins and Soto had three kills apiece, both with no errors on nine attempts.
IONA PERFORMERS:
- Soto led the way with eight kills and a .318 hitting percentage while adding three digs.
- Wiggins had seven kills and seven digs. She received a team-high 18 services and was charged with just one error.
- Senior right side Morgan Madasz added four kills.
- Sophomore setter Emma Vu recorded 10 assists and four digs in two sets played.
- Senior Hope Matschner tallied a team-high eight digs.
THE OPPONENT:
- Hofstra's Clara Bal had a match-high 11 kills.
- Beatriz Alves had 26 assists and 13 digs.
- The game marked a return to the Hynes Center for Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur '05, a standout volleyball performer for the Gaels in the 2000s and 2022 inductee into the Arrigoni Hall of Fame.
UP NEXT:
The Gaels return to tournament play in a weekend two trip to Richmond, Virginia, and the VCU Invitational. Iona takes on the host Rams on Friday at 11 a.m. along with Radford later the same evening at 6 p.m. The event concludes vs. Georgetown Saturday at 1 p.m.
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