FAIRFIELD, CT – The Iona University volleyball team faced the Fairfield Stags in the final match of its four-game road trip. Despite a strong second-set performance and momentum swings throughout the match, the Gaels fell to the Stags in four sets.
the rundown: FAIRFIELD: 3, IONA: 1
SET 1: The match opened with an ace from junior Kari Smith before Fairfield went on a 4-2 run to take a 4-3 lead. The Gaels responded with a 4-1 run, sparked by a kill from freshman Anissa Copper and capped by a kill from sophomore Emma Koceja, to take a 7-5 advantage. Fairfield answered with a 7-2 run to regain the lead at 12-9. After a series of back-and-forth rallies, the Stags held a 15-13 advantage before extending their lead with a 5-1 run to go up 20-14. The Gaels continued to battle, scoring three consecutive points, capped by an ace from junior Jaylyn Simon. Fairfield reached set point, but a kill from junior Katherine Ferng sparked four straight points for the Maroon & Gold. However, a Fairfield kill ended the set and secured a 25-23 win for the Stags.
SET 2: The Gaels opened the second set strong with a 4-1 run, sparked by a kill from senior Buse Tinaz and capped by a kill from sophomore Julia Leonardo. Fairfield battled back to cut the deficit to 6-5, but Iona responded with a 5-2 run featuring kills from Smith and Tinaz to extend its lead to 11-7. The teams traded points throughout the middle of the set, with Iona maintaining its advantage. The Gaels then closed the set on a dominant 9-2 run, sparked by a kill from Copper and capped by Smith, to secure a 25-16 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
SET 3: Fairfield came out strong in the third set, opening with a 7-2 run to establish an early lead. The Stags extended their advantage to 9-3 before the Gaels responded with a 4-1 run featuring a solo block from Copper, a block from Tinaz and Koceja, and another solo block from Tinaz. The run brought Iona within three at 10-7. Fairfield halted the momentum with a block, but three consecutive points from the Maroon & Gold brought the Gaels within one at 11-10. The Stags gradually extended their lead to 16-13, but a Fairfield service error sparked an 8-3 run for Iona, giving the Gaels a two-point advantage. Fairfield responded by closing the set on a 6-1 run to take the third set, 25-22.
SET 4: The Stags opened the fourth set with an 8-2 run to establish an early cushion. A kill from Koceja ended Fairfield's run and sparked a 6-3 stretch for the Gaels, capped by a block from Tinaz and Ferng, to cut the deficit to 11-8 as Iona looked to force a fifth set. Fairfield extended its lead to 14-9, but the Gaels continued to fight back with a 5-1 run featuring two aces and a kill from Tinaz to pull within one at 15-14. After several back-and-forth rallies, the Stags held an 18-17 advantage before closing the match with a 7-1 run. Fairfield secured a 25-18 fourth-set victory to claim the match in four sets.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Leonardo would lead the attack for the Gaels with 12 kills. Smith and Tinaz both finished with nine kills.
- Freshman Grace Daniels would finish with 18 assists and Simon would be right behing with 17 assists.
- Tinaz recorded 4.0 total blocks on the afternoon.
- Junior Avery Gaume and Smith would each finish with 11 digs.
THE OPPONENT
- Krubally would lead the attack for the Stags with 15 kills.
- Sykut would lead the Stags in assists with 31. Sykut also recorded four aces.
- Dufourt would lead the Fairfield defense with 15 digs.
- Nagy finished the match with 3.5 blocks.
NEXT MATCH
The Maroon and Gold return to action on Tuesday as they welcome in conference rival Manhattan. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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