FAIRFIELD, CT – The Iona University volleyball team faced the Sacred Heart Pioneers in a Friday night matchup. The Gaels battled throughout the contest, but Sacred Heart pulled away late in each set to secure a straight-set victory.
the rundown: SHU: 3, IONA: 0
SET 1: The Gaels opened the scoring with a solo block from senior Ezzie Thompson. Sacred Heart responded with a 4-2 run to take an early 4-3 lead. Iona regained the advantage at 7-4, capitalizing on four consecutive Pioneers errors. Sacred Heart answered with a strong 9-2 run to take a 13-9 lead. The Gaels cut the deficit to two following a service error and an ace from senior Sanem Bas. However, the Pioneers responded with a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 20-13. Sacred Heart maintained its momentum to close out the set, earning a 25-17 victory.
SET 2: Iona bounced back to open the second set, with a pair of combined blocks from junior Katherine Ferng and senior Buse Tinaz, followed by Tinaz and sophomore Emma Koceja, giving the Gaels an early 3-1 lead. Sacred Heart responded with a lengthy 10-2 run to build an 11-5 advantage. A block from Koceja and sophomore Gabby Taylor looked to halt the Pioneers' momentum, but Sacred Heart followed with a 6-3 run to extend its lead to 17-9. Sophomore Julia Leonardo sparked a potential Gaels rally with a kill, helping fuel a 4-2 run that included two combined blocks and a kill from Tinaz to cut the deficit to six. After several back-and-forth rallies, Sacred Heart reached set point. Iona continued to battle, capitalizing on three Pioneers attack errors and adding a kill from Leonardo to pull within three. However, a final kill from Sacred Heart secured a 25-21 set victory and gave the Pioneers a two-set advantage.
SET 3: Iona opened the third set with a kill from Leonardo, but Sacred Heart responded with two consecutive points to take the lead. Tinaz answered with a kill to spark a 4-1 Gaels run, highlighted by three kills from the senior, to give Iona a 5-3 advantage. Sacred Heart responded with a 5-2 run to reclaim the lead at 8-7. Freshman Anissa Cooper and Leonardo each recorded a kill to help the Gaels regain the advantage at 9-8. The Pioneers then used an 8-2 run to build a 16-11 lead. Iona answered with a 5-1 run, capped by a Sacred Heart attack error, to pull within one at 17-16. The Pioneers responded to the Gaels' late push with a 6-3 run to extend their lead to 23-19. Sacred Heart closed out the set, earning a 25-20 victory to complete the three-set sweep.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Leonardo led the team in kills with 9.
- Tinaz had seven kills and five block assists to tie Leonardo with a team high 9.5 points.
- Junior Jaylyn Simon led the team in assists with 11.
- Junior Avery Gaume led the defense with 16 digs.
- Koceja recorded five block assists.
THE OPPONENT
- Hubert led Sacred Heart in kills with 13.
- Franz led the team in assists with 35.
- Hagedorn led the Pioneers defense with 14 digs.
NEXT MATCH
The Maroon and Gold return to action on Saturday as they stay in Connecticut to face off against the Fairfield Stags. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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