NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University volleyball team earned a straight-sets victory over FDU in non-conference action to earn their second straight win Tuesday evening at the Hynes Center. The Gaels (4-7) defeated the Knights, 25-20, 25-23, 25-22 led by a match-high 14 kills from sophomore outside hitter Mackenzie Wiggins, graduate setter Samantha Juran's 27 assists and senior libero Hope Matschner's 28 digs.

SET 1 (IONA 25, FDU 20)

Two ties and three lead changes highlighted the opening set between Iona and FDU, which saw the home team rally back into the game to take the lead, 6-5. Senior middle blocker Jen Soto led the charge early on with two kills, followed by Wiggins with one. After breaking the tie, Iona extended its lead to 15-10 with the help of four more kills from Wiggins, two from freshman outside hitter Ava DeGuzman and one from rookie middle blocker Ezzie Thompson. The Knights attempted a comeback in the contest but were met with counters each step of the way. Thompson and freshman middle blocker Buse Tinaz combined for three kills and Matschner added an ace to ensure the visitors only came within two points of Iona. A pair of kills from Wiggins and Soto clinched the opening set for the Gaels. Wiggins led the set with seven kills and Soto was right behind her with four. Juran contributed with 12 assists and Thompson hit three of five attack attempts. The Gaels had nine more kills and out-hit the Knights .200-.047 to dominate the set.

SET 2 (IONA 25, FDU 23)

Iona created separation from FDU with three straight points early and eventually took an early 12-7 lead. DeGuzman, Soto and Thompson each had a pair of kills, with Juran contributing one and Wiggins contributing both a kill and an ace. The Knights came back to tie the game at 16, which saw the most contested period of the set. The closing moments of the set saw five ties and seven lead changes in a back-and-forth contest before Iona went on a 5-3 run to take the set. Wiggins and Soto each had five kills to lead the Gaels.

SET 3 (IONA 25, FDU 22)

The final set saw FDU come out to an early 3-1 lead. Scores from senior outside hitter Greta Stjade, Juran and Tinaz helped Iona take the lead and break a 4-4 tie.  The early moments of the contest saw three more ties and three lead changes before rookie outside hitter Sanem Bas' ace gave the Gaels the lead for good at 7-6. The lead was further extended to 17-13 with Stjade's kill, sophomore defensive specialist Rose Porter's ace and Wiggins' kill and ace as the Gaels capitalized on the errors of their opponents. The Knights fought back with a 6-2 run and tied the game at 19. Iona regained control of the game behind Matschner's two aces and Wiggins' final kill to put the contest away. Stjade led the set with three kills and Matschner posted six digs.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Wiggins led the team with a match-high 14 kills. She recorded a double-double with 10 digs, scoring 17 points in the contest.
• Matschner had yet another unblemished match with 28 digs, and a team-high three aces.
• Juran contributed a match-high 27 assists. She also added four digs and two blocks in the starting lineup.
• Soto was second on the team in kills with 10 kills and five digs.
• Stjade had three kills and one dig with zero errors and 9-for-9 on serve receptions playing just the final set.

THE OPPONENT

• FDU's Tatijana Fucka led her team with 11 kills.
• Hannah Schmidt posted a double-double with 12 assists and 14 digs, along with three aces.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will play their first MAAC game on Saturday (September 16) when they host Rider on at 1 p.m. in the Hynes Center.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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