Iona Volleyball Sweeps Niagara In Home Opener

Iona Volleyball Sweeps Niagara In Home Opener

Written By: Talk of the Sound News

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College volleyball team snapped its slide with a three-set sweep of Niagara in its 2015 home opener in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels were led by 14 kills by rookie OH Claire Archibald and a combined 18 kills and .469 hitting percentage up the middle from junior Karly White and freshman Mia Bonsignore in the win.

Iona took the first set 25-20, scoring the final five points of frame after breaking a 16-16 tie. In the middle set, the Gaels erased a 15-12 deficit with a 6-1 run and held on to a 25-22 win. The Maroon & Gold took a lead at 2-1 and never looked back, leading by as many as eight points on several occasions before finally putting the match away at 25-17.

Archibald put down 14 balls and hit .257 while registering six digs and two blocks. Both White and Bonsignore had nine kills a piece with White recording a .529 hitting percentage. Bonsignore hit .400 with two digs and three blocks. Freshman OH Amanda Gannon chipped in five kills and a team-best 13 digs. Rookie DS Kait Ferretti added 10 digs while libero Jessica Paolucci had eight digs but had a team-best 17 service receptions in the win.

Senior setter Natalie Ziskin posted 35 assists with eight digs and four kills in a stellar all-around effort.

Niagara’s Nicole Matheis posted nine kills while setter Alexis Gray had 19 assists and libero Rylee Hunt had 14 digs in the loss.

The Gaels continue MAAC action at the Hynes Center tomorrow vs. Canisius at 1:00 pm.