NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Niagara overcame a five-point, fifth set deficit to defeat the Iona College volleyball team in MAAC action at the Hynes Center this afternoon. After winning the first set 25-17, the Gaels (15-9, 9-5 MAAC) dropped the next two (25-18, 25-19) and rallied to tie in the fourth (25-21) to force a deciding set. Niagara trailed 14-9 in the frame and scored the match’s final seven points in the 16-14 win.
Freshman OH Alicja Pawelec (Glendale, NY), pictured above, posted 16 kills to lead all Iona performers. Senior MB Colleen Genett (Katonah, NY) added 14 while sophomore OH Theresa Harvey (Fairfax, VA) added 13 and senior MB Rachel Whitten (Ramona, CA) recorded nine in the loss. Sophomore setter Nicole Tamburri (Croton-on-Hudson, NY) posted a double-double with a career-high 51 assists while adding 15 digs. Tamburri posted four blocks, two aces and two kills. Genett and Whitten also had four rejections.
Senior libero Allison Nieters (St. Charles, MO) had a match-high 31 digs, the fourth time this season and 29th in her career that she reached the 30 dig mark. Senior DS Laura Fojanesi (Cortlandt Manor, NY) posted a season-high 15 digs.
Niagara’s Kari Honomichl recorded 16 kills and Amanda Wilken 14 to lead the visitors. Setter Michelle James had 46 assists and 14 digs while libero Sam Morgan had 28 digs in the win.
Iona completes a four-game homestand next week when they host Loyola and Saint Peter’s at the Hynes Center. The Gaels and Greyhounds square off on Friday (Nov. 5) night at 7:30 pm.
