NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University volleyball team earned its fourth straight win, dispatching Saint Peter's in three sets to improve to 2-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. The Gaels won in straight sets 25-13, 25-15 and 25-18. The Maroon & Gold hit a season-best .375 in the match, also a high for any MAAC team this season.

SET 1 (IONA 25, SAINT PETER'S 13):

Iona never trailed, hit .351, recorded 18 kills, and held Saint Peter's to a negative hitting percentage in a convincing opening frame. The Gaels largest lead was the final margin. Sophomore Mackenzie Wiggins had six kills and graduate setter Samantha Juran had 16 assists. Three other Maroon & Gold performers posted three kills each.

SET 2 (IONA 25, SAINT PETER'S 15):

Trailing 2-1, Iona ripped off five straight points and never looked back. Like the first set, the Gaels largest advantage was the set's final score. The Maroon & Gold posted a .500 hitting percentage and had 15 kills. Wiggins and senior Jen Soto had four kills apiece. Senior libero Hope Matschner recorded seven digs.

SET 3 (IONA 25, SAINT PETER'S 18):

With Matschner and Juran on the bench for the final frame, the Gaels gradually created separation and gained their first five-point lead at 10-5. Iona increased the advantage to 18-8 and held off a late charge by the visitors to earn the 25-18 win. Wiggins, senior Greta Stjade, and freshman Ezzie Thompson each had four kills. Iona hit .314 for the frame. Junior Tamara Pichardo recorded eight assists and in her first set as a libero, freshman Sanem Bass posted four digs and was 7-for-7 on serve receptions.

IONA PERFORMERS:

• Wiggins posted a match high 14 kills and had seven digs in the win. She also had a block and an ace for 15.5 points. She hit a career-best .480, surpassed this season by only three other performers in the MAAC including her teammate Thompson vs. Rider yesterday.
• Stjade had nine kills and hit .320.
• Thompson recorded eight kills and hit .385 with two blocks. In three matches this week she averaged 3.1 kills and 0.7 blocks per set while hitting .411 from her middle blocker position.
• Freshman Buse Tinaz matched her season-best from a day ago with six kills and added a team-high three blocks.
• Juran, who played two sets, had 24 assists (12.0/set), six digs (3.0/set) and two blocks.
• Matschner also played in just the first two frames and had 12 digs (6.0/set).
• Soto hit .714 with five kills on seven attempts.

THE OPPONENT:

• Saint Peter's Mackenzie Tucker had 10 kills and seven digs to lead her squad.
• Morgan Thurlow hit .500 with five kills and an error on eight attempts.

AROUND THE LEAGUE / UP NEXT:

Fairfield and Quinnipiac sit atop the MAAC standings alongside the Gaels at 2-0 after home wins over Niagara and Canisius. Marist also picked up a win in its only MAAC contest this week vs. Siena. Iona heads on its annual Western New York swing for matches against the Golden Griffins and Purple Eagles next weekend before returning home to face the also unbeaten Stags and Bobcats in two weeks.

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