NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University Volleyball team battled back from a two-set deficit to defeat the Canisius Golden Griffins in a five-set thriller. After claiming the opening set, the Gaels dropped the next two before rallying to win sets four and five and secure the comeback victory.
the rundown: iona: 3, canisius: 2
SET 1: The first point of the match for the Maroon & Gold came on a kill from freshman Julia Leonardo. Two points later, Leonardo gave the Gaels their first lead of the match with another kill to make the score 3-2. The Golden Griffins responded with three consecutive points to take a 5-3 lead, but a 3-1 run capped by a service ace from senior Buse Tinaz knotted the score at six. A kill from sophomore Emma Koceja gave Iona a 7-6 advantage. The set remained close, with neither team leading by more than two points as the Gaels held an 11-10 lead. Canisius then used a 5-1 run to take a 15-13 advantage heading into the media timeout. Out of the timeout, the Griffins scored two consecutive points to extend their lead to 17-13. However, the Gaels responded with four straight points, highlighted by a solo block from Tinaz, a joint block from Tinaz and Koceja, and a service ace from Leonardo to tie the score at 17. Leonardo followed with another service ace to give Iona an 18-17 lead and cap a five-point run. The late surge propelled the Gaels to a 25-21 set victory as they closed the frame with three consecutive points.
SET 2: The second set opened with a close battle, as the score remained tied at three before Canisius scored twice to take a 5-3 lead. The Gaels responded with consecutive points, including a kill from Leonardo and a Canisius error, to even the score at five. Iona held a 7-6 advantage before four straight points from the Griffins gave them a 10-7 lead. A kill from junior Kari Smith ended the run and sparked a 3-1 stretch that brought the Gaels within one. Senior Ezzie Thompson then tied the set at 11 with a kill. The teams continued to trade points, with Canisius holding a 15-14 lead at the media timeout. The score remained tied at 16 before the Griffins scored three of the next four points to take a 20-17 advantage. A Canisius service error sparked three consecutive points for Iona, featuring a kill from Leonardo and a joint block from junior Katherine Ferng and Tinaz, to tie the set at 20. The teams continued to trade points as the set approached its conclusion. With the score tied at 24, the teams entered a win-by-two situation. A Canisius kill gave the Griffins a 25-24 lead, but a kill from senior Sanem Bas tied the score at 25. Canisius responded with back-to-back kills to claim the second set, 27-25.
SET 3: The Gaels opened the third set with consecutive points following a Canisius error and a kill from Ferng to take a 2-0 lead. The Griffins answered with three straight points to move ahead 3-2, but a service ace from Thompson tied the score at three. Canisius scored twice more to take a 6-4 lead before a 4-1 run by the Gaels, capped by a kill from Smith, gave Iona an 8-7 advantage. The Griffins responded with a 3-1 run of their own to take a 10-9 lead. With the score tied at 10, Canisius recorded three consecutive points to move ahead 13-10 and force an Iona timeout. The Gaels later trailed 17-13 before a 3-1 run, started by a kill from Smith and capped by a kill from Thompson, brought them within two at 18-16. The Griffins maintained their advantage down the stretch, but Iona mounted a late rally with three consecutive points to tie the score at 23. Canisius answered with two straight points to secure the third set, 25-23.
SET 4: The Maroon & Gold came out strong in the fourth set with a joint block from Thompson and Ferng, followed by a service ace from Bas. A kill from Ferng extended the early run to 3-0. The Gaels continued their momentum, building a 6-1 lead capped by a kill from Leonardo to force a Canisius timeout. Out of the timeout, Iona scored three consecutive points on a kill from Tinaz, a joint block from Tinaz and Koceja, and a kill from Koceja to extend its advantage to 9-1. The Gaels continued to dominate defensively, holding the Griffins to just five points as the set approached its midway point, with Iona leading 15-5. Leonardo delivered a strong kill to extend the Gaels' advantage to 12 at 20-8. Iona maintained control the rest of the way, and a kill from Smith brought the Gaels to set point before they closed out the frame with a 25-14 victory to force a decisive fifth set.
SET 5: The Gaels struck first in the decisive fifth set, but the Griffins responded with two consecutive points to take a 2-1 lead. Leonardo answered with a kill to tie the score at two. Canisius briefly held a 3-2 advantage before Iona scored four straight points, featuring two kills from Koceja, a kill from Tinaz, and a service ace from Leonardo, to take a 6-3 lead and force a Canisius timeout.The Griffins responded with three consecutive points to tie the score at six. After Canisius regained a 7-6 advantage, a kill from Smith evened the set at seven. The Griffins then scored three straight points to take a 10-7 lead. With Canisius ahead 12-9, the Gaels mounted a crucial rally, scoring three consecutive points on a kill from Thompson, a Canisius error, and a joint block from Leonardo and Tinaz to tie the score at 12. Canisius took a 13-12 lead as the match approached its conclusion, but the Gaels responded with three straight points to seal the victory. Leonardo delivered the decisive kill as Iona claimed the fifth set, 15-13, to secure the five-set match victory.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Leonardo had 20 kills, 11 digs and 5 aces.
- Smith and Koceja added double-digit kills.
- Daniels and Simon each had 20+ assists.Grace added 16 digs for a double-double.
- Bas led the defnese with 24 digs.
- Tinaz had a total of six blocks.
THE OPPONENT
- Kos led the attack for the Griffins with 17 kills.
- Warmbrodt and Rich each had 20+ kills.
- Isroff recorded eight aces.
- Reynaga led the defense ith 31 digs.
- Siebenaler recorded three total blocks.
NEXT MATCH
The Maroon and Gold return to action on Saturday as they face off against Niagara at home. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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