FAIRFIELD, CT – The Iona University volleyball team opened their weekend road trip in Connecticut with a match up against the Fairfield Stags. The Gaels ultimately fell in three sets. After a challenging first set, the Maroon and Gold kept sets two and three competitive.

THE RUNDOWN: Fairfield: 3, iona: 0

SET 1: The Gaels opened the scoring following a Fairfield attack error. A service ace from the Stags quickly put the Maroon and Gold in an early four-point deficit. After a kill from junior Buse Tinaz, Fairfield went on an extended 8-2 run to build a double-digit lead. The Gaels began to find their rhythm on offense, but the push would not be enough as the Stags claimed the set 25-14.

SET 2: The Gaels once again earned their first point of the set from a Fairfield attack error. All of Iona's first four points came off Stag errors, giving the Gaels a 4-3 advantage. Iona held a 5-3 lead until Fairfield responded with six unanswered points to go up 9-5. Freshman Emma Koceja stopped the run with a kill. The Stags would hold a six-point lead at the first media timeout. Following a Fairfield point out of the break, Koceja responded with another kill, but the Stags answered with four straight points to extend their lead to ten. The Gaels then went on a 9-4 run, capped by a block from senior Caleigh Schroeder and freshman Cassandra Rohan. Despite the late push, the Gaels fell in the set 25-19.

SET 3: Koceja opened the scoring for the Maroon and Gold with back-to-back kills. The Stags responded with a 7-2 run to regain the lead and build a two-point cushion. Their advantage grew to five after a service ace, prompting the Gaels to call their first timeout of the set. The frame stayed competitive as a 5-2 run brought the Gaels back within three, but the late push from the Maroon and Gold fell short as the Stags secured the set 25-19.

IONA Performers

• Freshman Julia Leonardo led the attack with eight kills.
• Schroeder led the team in assists with 16. She also had a team high 19 digs.

THE OPPONENT

• Mamie Krubally led the attack for the Stags with 11 kills.
• Abby Jandro led the team in assists with 16 and digs with 15.

UP NEXT

The Maroon and Gold return to action on the road tomorrow at 6 P.M. to face off against the Sacred Heart Pioneers. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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