Iona University Athletics

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University Volleyball team opened the Iona Invitational with a three-set sweep of Central Connecticut State University. After falling behind early in the first set, the Gaels used a late 7-2 run to take the set before controlling the final two frames to secure their first win of the tournament.

THE RUNDOWN: IONA: 3, CCSU: 0

SET 1: The Maroon & Gold had an early hole to dig out of to begin the match as the Blue Devils jumped out to an 8-2 lead. The Gaels answered with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to three at 10-7. CCSU pushed its lead back to six following a 5-1 run to make the score 16-10. A kill from sophomore Julia Leonardo sparked a 6-2 Iona run, capped off by a block from junior Kari Smith and senior Buse Tinaz, to bring the Gaels within two at 18-16. Following a Gaels service error that made the score 19-16, Iona responded with a 7-2 run, featuring four kills from Smith, to take a two-point lead at 23-21. CCSU would not go down quietly, scoring three unanswered points to reach set point. The teams continued to battle back and forth, forcing a win-by-two scenario. The Gaels ultimately came out on top, as kills from Leonardo and freshman Reese Henderson secured a 28-26 set-one victory.

SET 2: The second set began as a back-and-forth battle, with neither team holding a lead larger than two until a Blue Devils attack error gave Iona an 8-5 advantage. CCSU answered with a 5-1 run to regain the lead, but the Gaels responded with a 5-2 run of their own, capped off by another Blue Devils attack error, to take a 14-12 lead. Iona extended its advantage to six after five unanswered points made the score 19-13. The Maroon & Gold maintained control the rest of the way, taking the second set 25-20.

SET 3: After conceding the first two points of the set, the Gaels responded with a commanding 9-2 run that featured three kills from junior Katherine Ferng. The Blue Devils answered with five unanswered points to knot the score at 11. Iona then utilized a 6-1 run of its own, capped off by a kill from Tinaz, to regain control. A 4-1 CCSU run brought the Blue Devils back within two at 18-16 after the Gaels had built a five-point advantage. Following a handful of back-and-forth rallies, Iona held a 20-18 lead before closing out the set on a 5-2 run. Senior Ezzie Thompson started the run with a kill, while Ferng finished it with a kill to secure a 25-20 set-three victory and a three-set sweep.

IONA Performers

• Leonardo had a double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs while tying her career high in blocks with six.
• Ferng had a career-high 12 kills.
• Simon led the team in assists with 24. 
• Gaume anchored the defense with 23 kills. 
• Tinaz had total blocks. 

THE OPPONENT

• Keckler led the attack for the Blue Devils with 21 kills. 
• Aviles was the assist leader with 29. 
• Denomme, Berkland and Aviles all had double digit digs. 

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SOCIAL MEDIA