Iona University Athletics

NEW YORK, NY – The Iona University Volleyball team faced off against the FDU Knights in the final match of the 2026 Big Apple Tournament. The Maroon & Gold were topped by the Knights in three sets. FDU closed out the first set with a late run, while Iona mounted a 6-1 run late in the second set, but it was not enough to overcome the Knights. The third set featured a back-and-forth battle, with both teams putting together runs before three unanswered points from FDU secured the set and the match.

THE RUNDOWN: FDU: 3, IONA: 0

SET 1: The Maroon & Gold found themselves in an early hole as the Knights opened the set on a 6-1 run. Following a service error and a kill from junior Katherine Ferng, the Gaels pulled within three. The Knights responded with a 6-2 run to extend their lead to seven. Iona slowly began to chip away in the middle of the set, as a kill from junior Mija Jegers sparked a 7-3 run capped off by a kill from Julia Leonardo. The Gaels took their first lead of the set at 20-19 as two aces from senior Sanem Bas capped off a 7-1 Iona run. The Gaels ultimately fell 25-22, as FDU closed the set on a 5-1 run.

SET 2: The second set began as a back-and-forth battle, with the score knotted at 7-7. The Knights created a three-point lead following a 4-1 run. The score was tied again at 11-11 following a kill from Leonardo and an ace from junior Jaylyn Simon. After a series of back-and-forth rallies, the Knights went on an extended 9-3 run to build a six-point lead. The Gaels refused to go down quietly, as a kill from senior Ezzie Thompson sparked a 6-1 run highlighted by three kills from freshman Alex Pastos to bring Iona within one at 24-23. However, a Knights kill ended the comeback attempt as the Gaels fell 25-23.

SET 3: The Knights opened the third set with three unanswered points, but the Maroon & Gold responded with a 7-2 run to take a 7-5 lead. The lead would not last long, as FDU answered with an 8-1 run to take a 14-9 advantage. With the score at 15-10, a kill from Simon sparked a 7-2 run that saw four different Gaels record a kill to knot the score at 17-17. FDU responded with a 5-1 run to regain a four-point cushion and move closer to clinching the match. The Knights closed the set with three straight points to secure a 25-20 victory and complete the match sweep.

IONA Performers

• Leonardo led the attack with 13 kills. 
• Ferng had nine kills on the afternoon. 
• Simon was the leader in assists with 33. 
• Simon and sophomore Joy Houdre both had ten digs. 

THE OPPONENT

• Samardzija was the leader in kills for the Knights with 12. 
• Scarfone and Marginean each had 12 assists. 
• Samardzija was the leader in digs with 12. 

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SOCIAL MEDIA