Iona University Athletics

NEWARK, NJ – The Iona University volleyball team fell to Seton Hall, 3-1, in its opening match of the NJIT Tournament. After dropping the first set, the Maroon & Gold bounced back to even the match before late Pirate runs in sets three and four secured the victory.

THE RUNDOWN: SETON HALL: 3, IONA: 1

SET 1: The first kill of the match for the Maroon & Gold came from junior Katherine Ferng, but the Pirates responded with a 4-1 run to take an early 4-2 lead. Seton Hall later extended its lead to four following three unanswered points to make it 8-4. The Gaels used three Pirate errors to cut the deficit to one, as the score sat at 8-7. Seton Hall quickly ballooned its lead to nine following a 9-0 run midway through the set, making the score 16-7. The run proved to be the difference as the Pirates held their ground to take the first set, 25-15.

SET 2: The Gaels bounced back in the second set, opening with a 6-2 run that featured three Pirate errors and kills from sophomores Julia Leonardo and Gabby Taylor. The Gaels extended their lead to six shortly after, as kills from Ferng and junior Mija Jegers made the score 9-3. After a handful of back-and-forth rallies, the Pirates cut the deficit to four at 12-8. The Gaels responded with a block from Taylor and Leonardo, two kills from Leonardo, and a kill from freshman Grace Daniels to push their lead to eight midway through the set. With Iona leading 18-11, a late 5-1 run featuring kills from four different Gaels created a 23-12 advantage. The Gaels ultimately secured the set, 25-17, following a set-clinching block from senior Buse Tinaz and Leonardo despite a late four-point run from the Pirates.

SET 3: The third set featured a back-and-forth battle between the Pirates and the Maroon & Gold, with neither team holding a lead larger than one through the early stages as the Gaels led 9-8. The Pirates ended the continuous exchange by scoring five straight points to build a 13-9 lead. The Gaels quickly responded, as Jegers, Ferng, and Taylor each recorded a kill during a 6-2 run to knot the score at 15-15. The set remained close with both teams trading points, as the Gaels held a 20-19 lead. Three straight points from the Pirates then gave Seton Hall a two-point cushion at 22-20. The Gaels battled back to tie the score at 23, but the Pirates closed the set with two straight points to take a 25-23 victory and move one set closer to securing the match.

SET 4: The Pirates opened the fourth set strong, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. With Seton Hall leading 8-4, the Gaels responded with a 5-2 run featuring kills from senior Ezzie Thompson and Leonardo to cut the deficit to one. A kill from Jegers later gave the Gaels their first lead of the set, capping a three-point run that put the Maroon & Gold ahead 13-12. With both teams trading points as the set approached its conclusion, the score remained knotted at 18. The Pirates then scored four straight points to take a 22-18 lead, which ultimately pushed them to a 25-23 set victory and a match win as the Maroon & Gold were unable to mount a late rally.

IONA Performers

• Leonardo led the attack for the Gaels with 14 kills. 
• Daniels led the Gaels with 32 assists, which is a new career high.
• Junior Kari Smith recorded two service aces. 
• Junior Avery Gaume led the Gaels with 19 digs. Jegers added 16 digs. 
• Taylor had four blocks. 

THE OPPONENT

• Labanowska recorded 15 kills for the Pirates. 
• Adler led Seton Hall in assists with 28 and digs with 20.
• Nelson recorded 18 digs. 
• Clyburn recorded four blocks on the afternoon. 

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SOCIAL MEDIA