Iona University Athletics

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona University volleyball team closed out the 2026 Iona Invitational against St. John's. The Gaels battled throughout the match, but a late rally in the opening set gave the Johnnies the edge before St. John's carried the momentum into the second and third sets to secure the match victory.

THE RUNDOWN: st. john's: 3, Iona: 0

SET 1: The set began as a back-and-forth battle with both teams trading points as the score was knotted at 4-4. The Johnnies then went on a 10-3 run to take a 13-7 lead. A St. John's service error sparked three unanswered points for the Gaels, featuring two kills from sophomore Julia Leonardo, to bring Iona within three. The Johnnies responded with a 4-1 run to push their lead back to six at 17-11. A kill from junior Kari Smith sparked a 4-1 run for the Gaels that featured a kill from junior Katherine Ferng and a block from sophomore Cassandra Rohan and Ferng. St. John's closed the set on a 7-2 run to take the opening frame, 25-17.

SET 2: St. John's picked up right where it left off with a 9-3 run to open the second set. Ferng looked to end the Red Storm's run with a kill, but St. John's responded with an 8-1 run to extend its lead to 17-5. The Gaels struggled to find their offense for the remainder of the set as the Johnnies closed with six unanswered points to take the set, 25-7.

SET 3: The set began as a back-and-forth battle with both teams trading points as the score was knotted at 4-4. Leonardo followed with a service ace to give the Gaels a 5-4 lead. With St. John's holding a 6-5 advantage, senior Ezzie Thompson and junior Mija Jegers each recorded a kill, while a Red Storm attack error helped Iona take an 8-6 lead. St. John's responded with a 5-1 run to take an 11-9 lead, but the Gaels quickly knotted the score at 11 following two Red Storm errors. The teams continued to trade points over the next several rallies, with St. John's lead never exceeding two until two consecutive points put the Johnnies ahead 18-15. With the score at 18-17, St. John's created separation with four straight points to take a 22-17 lead. The Gaels cut the deficit to two at 22-20 following kills from Ferng and Leonardo, along with a St. John's attack error, but the rally was not enough. The Johnnies ultimately took the set, 25-21, to secure the match in three sets.

ALL IONA INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Rashanny Solano Smith (St. John's) - Iona Invitational MVP
• Chloe Bell (St. John's)
• Maggie Carcillo (St. John's)
• Katherine Ferng (Iona) 
• Julia Leonardo (Iona)
• Ema Torres (NJIT)
• Breanna Ginley (CCSU)

IONA Performers

• Leonardo led the attack with nine kills. 
• Rohan had four blocks on the evening. 
• Freshman Grace Daniels and Simon had double-digit assists. 
• Gaume led the defense with nine digs. 

THE OPPONENT

• Tesoro was the attack leader with 21 kills.
• Carcillo and Caputi both had 20+ assists. 
• Stamenkovic and Hadžiredžepovic with five and four blocks respectively. 
• Solano Smith was the defense leader with 15 digs.

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SOCIAL MEDIA