NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University volleyball team faced Rider University in the first match of their weekend home stand. The Gaels opened the match with a strong start. In the opening set, Iona fell behind by six early but rallied to win the set 29-27. The Gaels carried their momentum into the second set, using a four-point run to help secure a 25-20 victory despite a late push from the Broncs. However, Rider responded by taking the next three sets to complete the comeback and claim the match.

THE RUNDOWN: rider: 3, IONA: 2

SET 1: The Maroon and Gold found themselves in an early six-point deficit and were forced to use their first timeout. The Gaels earned their first point from a Rider service error, followed by two consecutive kills from freshman Emma Koceja. Iona clawed their way back with three unanswered points to cut the deficit to one. After another Rider error, a service ace from junior Buse Tinaz tied the score at seven. Kills from freshman Cassandra Rohan and sophomore Kari Smith, along with a few Rider attack errors, gave the Gaels a three-point lead. After Iona extended their advantage to five, the Broncs answered with four straight points to tie the score at 14. The teams continued trading points until freshman Julia Leonardo recorded a kill and a service ace to put the Maroon and Gold ahead by two, 19-17. The set was tied again at 24, creating a win-by-two scenario. After a series of back-and-forth rallies, Tinaz sealed the deal for the Gaels with a kill to secure the 29-27 set victory.

SET 2: The first point of the set came off a Koceja kill. The teams traded points early, with neither side leading by more than two. Four unanswered points from Iona, capped off by a Tinaz kill, extended the Gaels' lead to six. Rider cut the deficit to three after scoring three straight points, making it 17-14. The Broncs continued to battle, trimming the margin to one at 21-20 after a service ace and an Iona attack error. A Rider service error gave the Gaels some breathing room at 22-20. The Maroon and Gold closed the set on a 4-0 run, finishing it with a block from senior Caleigh Schroeder and Rohan to win 25-20.

SET 3: Iona's first point came from a kill by Leonardo. Rider responded with four unanswered points to take a 4-1 lead. After falling behind by four, the Gaels rallied with three straight points to make it a one-point game. The score was tied at 15 following several Rider errors and a service ace from Smith. A Rider attack error gave the Gaels their first lead of the set, but the Broncs quickly regained control with two consecutive points. Rider maintained the advantage for the rest of the frame and took the set 25-23.

SET 4: The scoring for the Maroon and Gold began with a kill from Koceja. Leonardo followed with a service ace to tie the score at two. Junior Sanem Bas evened the score again at five with another ace, and Rohan added a kill to give Iona a 6-5 edge. Rider tied it once more and then went on a 5-1 run to take a 13-9 lead. The Broncs' offense continued to find openings, scoring five unanswered points to push their lead to eight. After falling behind by as many as 11, Iona responded with a 7-1 run to pull within four. However, the late push came up short as a Gaels attack error handed Rider the 25-20 set win, forcing a decisive fifth set.

SET 5: Koceja opened the scoring for Iona with a kill. Leonardo and Koceja each followed with kills to give the Gaels a 3-1 lead. Tinaz and Koceja reignited the energy in the gym with a block that pushed the lead to 5-2. Rider answered with three straight points to tie the score at six. Tinaz gave the Gaels a 9-8 lead with a kill out of the timeout, but after holding a 10-9 edge, Iona surrendered two consecutive points as Rider went ahead 11-10. Both teams traded points down the stretch until a Gaels error gave the Broncs the set and the match.

IONA Performers

• Leonardo led the attack for the Gaels with 22 kills. Koceja tallied 14 kills. 
• Rohan had a career high in blocks with six. 
• Avery Gaume led the Gaels defense with 19 digs. 
• Schroeder with a team high 49 assists. 

THE OPPONENT

• Rylah Robinson and Kiannisha Santiago both had 20 kills. 
• Makenna Mason was the leader in assists with 57. She was also the leader in digs with 15. 
• Molly Rohde had six total blocks.

UP NEXT

The Maroon and Gold return back to Hynes Athletic Center to face off against Saint Peter's at 2 P.M. The match will be streamed on Iona Insider.

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