LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Iona University volleyball team opened its New Jersey weekend against Rider University, dropping the first two sets before rallying to claim the third. However, the Broncs held off the Gaels' comeback effort in the fourth set to secure a four-set victory.
the rundown: RIDER: 3, IONA: 1
SET 1: The Maroon & Gold found themselves in an early deficit, trailing 6-2. With Rider leading 8-3, a kill from sophomore Julia Leonardo sparked a 4-1 run that brought the Gaels within two at 9-7. The Broncs responded with a 6-2 run of their own to extend their lead to 15-9. After several back-and-forth rallies, Rider held an 17-11 advantage before a service error sparked a 4-1 run for Iona, cutting the deficit to 19-15. However, the Gaels were unable to mount a late comeback, falling 25-17 in the opening set.
SET 2: After conceding the first two points, the Gaels responded with six consecutive points, highlighted by a pair of kills from junior Katherine Ferng and Leonardo and capped by a block from Ferng and senior Buse Tinaz. Rider answered with a 6-2 run to even the score at 8-8. With Iona holding a 9-8 lead, the Broncs used a 4-1 spurt to regain the advantage at 12-10. Kills from Smith and Ferng helped the Gaels tie the score at 13-13, but Rider responded with three straight points to take a 16-13 lead. Iona battled back, as a kill from Leonardo sparked a 5-2 run to even the score at 18-18. After falling behind 21-19, the Gaels regained the lead at 23-21 behind a kill and service ace from Smith and another kill from Leonardo. However, the Broncs closed the set with four consecutive points to claim a 25-23 victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
SET 3: The third set opened with a tightly contested back-and-forth battle, with neither team leading by more than two points as the score remained tied at 9-9. The Gaels then broke through with a 6-1 run, highlighted by two service aces from junior Jaylyn Simon, a kill from Smith and a block from Thompson and Smith, to take a 15-10 lead. Rider responded with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to 17-15. Iona maintained its momentum as a Rider attack error sparked a five-point run, capped by a service ace from freshman Grace Daniels, to extend the lead to 22-15. The Broncs answered with a 7-2 run to make it a close finish, but the Gaels held on as a kill from Smith secured a 25-22 set victory and kept Iona in the match.
SET 4: The Gaels opened the fourth set strong, as a service ace from junior Mija Jegers helped spark a 4-2 start. Rider responded with a 6-1 run to take an 8-5 lead. Two Broncs errors helped Iona cut the deficit to one, but a 5-2 run extended Rider's advantage to 13-9. The teams traded points through the middle of the set, with the Broncs maintaining a lead of four or fewer until a kill pushed the score to 21-16. Iona responded with kills from Smith and sophomore Emma Koceja to cut the deficit to 22-19. With Rider leading 23-19 and closing in on match point, the Gaels mounted a late rally, scoring four of the next five points to pull within one at 24-23. However, the Broncs recorded a block on Iona's final attack attempt to secure a 25-23 set victory and clinch the match in four sets.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Leonardo led the Gaels offensively with 15 kills.
- Simon and Daniels each recorded 15 or more assists, while Daniels added 13 digs to record another double-double.
- Junior Avery Gaume, senior Sanem Bas and Jegers each recorded 10 or more digs.
THE OPPONENT
- Robinson led the Broncs offensively with 23 kills.
- Mason paced Rider's offense with 56 assists and added 21 digs.
- Langford also recorded 21 digs.
- Rohde led the Broncs at the net with three solo blocks.
NEXT MATCH
The Maroon and Gold return to action on Saturday as they stay in New Jersey to face off against the Peacocks on the road. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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