HAMDEN, CT – The Iona University volleyball team faced the Quinnipiac Bobcats in its second-to-last road match of the season. The Maroon and Gold struggled to find their offensive rhythm and fell in straight sets to the Bobcats.

THE RUNDOWN: Quinnipiac: 3, IONA: 0

SET 1: The first point of the set for the Maroon and Gold came off a kill from freshman Emma Koceja, but the Gaels quickly found themselves in a five-point deficit as the Bobcats took a 6-1 lead. Things stayed even for much of the set until three straight points, backed by two kills from junior Ezzie Thompson, brought the Gaels within three. After cutting the deficit to two, the Bobcats responded with four straight points to extend their lead to six. Quinnipiac closed the set on a 6-2 run to win 25-17.

SET 2: Koceja once again opened the scoring for the Maroon and Gold with a kill. The Gaels fell into another early hole as Quinnipiac built a 7-2 lead. After trailing by six, Iona scored three straight points, including two service aces from freshman Julia Leonardo, to pull within three. The set remained close until three consecutive points from the Bobcats pushed their lead back to six. An attack error from Quinnipiac and kills from Thompson and Koceja brought the Gaels within three again, but the Bobcats answered with another three-point burst. Iona was unable to generate a late run and dropped the set 25-19.

SET 3: The first point of the set for the Gaels came off a kill from Leonardo, but they quickly fell into a 6-1 deficit. A Bobcats kill pushed the score to 7-1, prompting Iona to call its first timeout of the set. The Gaels trailed by as many as 11 before a kill from Koceja, consecutive blocks from junior Buse Tinaz with help from Koceja, and a service ace from sophomore Kari Smith cut the lead to seven. Despite the effort, Iona struggled to find its offensive rhythm and fell 25-14.

IONA Performers

• Thompson led the attack with ten kills. 
• Senior Caleigh Schroeder led the team in assists with 18. 
• Sophomore Avery Gaume led the defense with 19 digs. 
• Tinaz had four blocks on the day. 

THE OPPONENT

• Yagmur Gunes, Elena Giacomini and Ginevra Giovagnoni all had double digit kills. 
• Damla Gunes led the team with 33 assists. 
• Carola Negron Diaz led the defense with 17 digs. 

UP NEXT

The Maroon and Gold will travel to Massachusetts tomorrow to face off against the Merrimack Warriors. The match is set to tip off at 3 P.M. The match will be streamed on ESPN+. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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