RIVERDALE, NY – The Iona University Volleyball team faced off against the Manhattan Jaspers in its first midweek match up of the season and swept the Jaspers in three sets to remain one of two undefeated teams in conference play. The win awarded Head Coach
Alyssa Kaufman the 100th win of her career.
the rundown: iona: 3, MANHATTAN: 0
SET 1: The first point of the match for the Maroon & Gold came on a kill from sophomore Emma Koceja, but the Jaspers responded with three straight points to take an early 3-1 lead. The Gaels quickly fought back to tie the score at three following a Manhattan error and a block from junior Katherine Ferng and senior Buse Tinaz. After several back-and-forth rallies, the score was knotted at nine before a kill from Koceja sparked a 6-1 run, capped off by junior Kari Smith. Leading 18-14, the Gaels closed the set on a 7-3 run, which featured three kills from senior Ezzie Thompson along with kills from Smith, Koceja and sophomore Julia Leonardo, to take the opening set 25-17.
SET 2: The Maroon & Gold opened the second set strong with a 4-2 run, highlighted by two kills from Tinaz. Manhattan responded with three straight points to take a 5-4 lead, but the Jaspers' advantage was short-lived. Kills from Leonardo and Thompson, along with an ace from Tinaz, gave the Gaels an 8-5 lead. With Iona leading 9-7, the Gaels surged for five consecutive points to build a seven-point cushion midway through the set. The Jaspers answered with five straight points of their own to cut the deficit to 14-12 as they looked to mount a comeback. Iona quickly responded, scoring three straight points following a Manhattan error, including a block from Tinaz and Koceja, to push its lead back to five. The three unanswered points proved to be the difference as the Gaels held strong the rest of the way to take the second set 25-19.
SET 3: The third set began as a close back-and-forth battle, with the score tied at four. The Gaels created separation with four straight points to take a 7-4 lead, capped off by a solo block from Tinaz. Manhattan responded with a 4-1 run to tie the set at eight. A kill from Thompson helped Iona regain the lead, but two straight points from the Jaspers put Manhattan back in front, 10-9. With the Gaels holding a 12-11 advantage, the Jaspers used four consecutive points to build a 15-12 lead. Iona answered with a kill from Koceja, a Manhattan error, a joint block from Tinaz and Ferng, and a kill from Smith to regain the lead at 16-15. The set continued to feature several runs, as Manhattan followed Iona's four unanswered points with three straight to take an 18-16 lead while looking to force a fourth set. Tinaz then helped lead a 4-1 Iona run with three blocks, including a solo block, a joint block with Ferng and another joint block with Leonardo, as the Gaels regained the lead at 20-19. The set remained close down the stretch, with the score tied at 24 as Iona looked to clinch the match and Manhattan fought to keep it alive. A kill from Koceja followed by a Manhattan attack error secured the set for the Gaels, who won 26-24 to complete the three-set sweep of the Jaspers.
IONA PERFORMERS
- Koceja led the Gaels with 11 kills.
- Tinaz dominated at the net with eight blocks, including two solo blocks.
- Daniels dished out 23 assists.
- Smith and Gaume each recorded double-digit digs.
THE OPPONENT
- Montilla led the team in kills with seven.
- Briger was the assist leader for the Jaspers with 16.
- Pfleger and Duncan each recorded eight digs.
NEXT MATCH
The Maroon and Gold return to action on Friday as they face off against Marist. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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