NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona University volleyball team fell in three sets to Fordham, 25-19, 25-17, 25-15 in non-conference action Thursday afternoon at the Hynes Center in the opening match of the 2023 Iona Invitational.

SET 1 (FORDham 25, iona 19)

On the back of freshman Ezzie Thompson's three kills, fellow rookie Ava DeGuzman and sophomore Mackenzie Wiggins led Iona to an early 7-6 lead in the contest. Fordham answered with a 6-2 run to take a 12-9 lead. The Rams extended their lead to 15-12, but Iona proceeded to come back in the set after a 5-0 run sparked by kills from Wiggins and freshman Buse Tinaz. Each team traded points and after a kill by Wiggins - who led the Gaels with five kills in the frame - the home team pulled within one to trail 18-17. The Rams closed out the set on 7-2 run to clinch the opening set.

SET 2 (fordham 25, iona 17)

A pair of kills early from DeGuzman and one from Wiggins led to Iona posting an early 5-2 lead. Iona extended the lead to 11-6 with six of the next 10 points. From there, the Rams countered with a 9-4 run to retake the lead. Wiggins, who had four kills in the set, and Thompson fought to keep the Gaels in the game with a kill each towards the end of the stretch. However, Fordham met each advance with a counter and closed the set on an 11-3 run.

SET 3 (fordham 25, iona 15)

Iona and Fordham went back and forth early in the third set, until Iona earned a three-point advantage at 9-6 following two kills from DeGuzman. The Rams rallied to tie the set at 13-13 despite efforts from rookie Sanem Bas, DeGuzman and Wiggins to keep the contest close. Fordham scored nine straight points to bring the game to 22-13. Iona fought to get back into the contest with kills from junior Makenna Casper and DeGuzman. The rookie DeGuzman led the set in kills with four. Fordham's Whitley Moody ended the match with a kill to give the visitors a straight sets victory.

IONA PERFORMERS

• Senior libero Hope Matschner provided a match-high 23 digs and was a perfect 23-for-23 on serve receptions to anchor the defense.
• Wiggins led the Gaels with 11 kills, supported by DeGuzman's seven.
• Senior setter Tamara Pichardo had a team best 11 assists.
• Bas and graduate setter Samantha Juran each had two aces.
• Casper and Wiggins aided Iona's defense with two blocks.

FORDHAM STATS

• Fordham's Whitley Moody led her squad with an 18-kill, eight-dig performance.

NEXT GAME

The Gaels are back in action tomorrow evening at the Hynes Center to face the ACC's Boston College. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be seen live on IonaInsider.com.

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