NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University volleyball team faced Fairfield University in their final match of the 2025 campaign. Before the match, the program honored its two seniors, Caleigh Schroeder and Rose Porter, with a pregame ceremony. After a difficult opening set, the Gaels responded in the second by pushing the frame to a win-by-two scenario but could not break through. In the third set, Iona fell 25-17.

THE RUNDOWN: FAirfield: 3, IONA: 0

SET 1: The first points of the match came from a kill by senior Caleigh Schroeder, followed by a kill from freshman Julia Leonardo. The Gaels opened strong against top-seeded Fairfield, keeping the set close with the Stags' lead never extending beyond three as play moved toward the media timeout. Fairfield held an 11-9 advantage before going on a 5-2 run to extend the lead to five. The Maroon & Gold could not generate the run they needed to climb back into the set and fell 25-18.

SET 2: Both teams traded points early with intense rallies and no lead larger than three. The Gaels' defense held firm, preventing Fairfield from pulling away as the Stags led 10-9. The score was tied at 11 following a block from freshman Emma Koceja and Cassandra Rohan, and Leonardo added a kill to give Iona a one-point edge. Fairfield answered out of the media timeout with two straight points to tie the score at 15. Thompson responded with a kill to put the Gaels back in front, but Fairfield countered with two more to regain the lead. With the set tied at 19, an Iona attack error put the Stags back on top. After trailing by two, a Rohan kill and two Schroeder service aces swung the advantage to the Gaels at 23-22. The set reached 24-24 to force a win-by-two finish. A Leonardo kill gave Iona a set point, but another attack error tied the score at 25. Fairfield then secured two straight points to take the set 27-25.

SET 3: Leonardo opened the set with a kill. Fairfield built a 4-1 lead before a Rohan kill cut the deficit to two. The set remained tight with both teams trading points after Fairfield's early burst. The Stags eventually increased their lead to five, prompting an Iona timeout. Out of the break, Kari Smith delivered a kill. After falling behind by eight, the Gaels battled back, highlighted by another Smith kill that trimmed the deficit to four. Despite the late push, the Maroon & Gold could not string together a sustained run and fell 25-17.

IONA Performers

• Leonardo led the attack with 15 kills.
• Schroeder had a double-double as she led the team in assists with 31 and digs with 16.

THE OPPONENT

• Mamie Krubally led the attack with 14 kills.
• Zofia Sykut led the team in assists with 21.
• Katelyn Cook led the defense with 13 digs.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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