Iona VB Takes Down First Place Siena In Four Sets

Saint Peter’s Tops Iona Volleyball In Five Sets

Written By: Talk of the Sound News

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Saint Peter’s erased a two-set deficit in a five-set win over the Iona College volleyball team in non-conference action at the Hynes Center. After the Gaels took the first two sets 25-18 and 25-22, the Peacocks won the final three 25-17, 26-20 and 15-6.

Freshman OH Claire Archibald led the Gaels with a career-high 20 kills and 64 swings. She completed a double-double with 16 digs, also matching a career-high reached in a five set defeat vs. Canisius last Sunday. Freshman RS Taylor Bannister hit .269 and had her first double-digit kill effort with 12. It came a match after her previous season-high of seven vs. St. Francis Monday. Freshman MB Mia Bonsignore added nine kills, two aces and three blocks, freshman OH Amanda Gannon had eight kills and 14 digs.

Both Iona setters in the match posted double-doubles. Senior Natalie Ziskin had 37 assists and 14 digs while freshman Emma Rose had 12 assists and 11 digs.

In the back row, freshman libero Jessica Paolucci recorded a career-best 41 digs. It tied for the fifth most in a single-match in school history, the sixth 40+ dig effort since 2004, and two shy of the school record held by former liberos Katie Marabella (2014) and Allison Nieters (2007, twice). Paolucci’s previous season best of 25 came in the team’s first match of the season vs. Holy Cross.

Saint Peter’s was led by senior Lauren Behrens 21-kill, 24-dig double-double. Setter Kaitlyn Sitton posted five kills, 45 assist and 15 digs. The pair were two of six Peacocks’ to record 10 or more digs.

The Gaels are in action tomorrow vs. first-place Rider at the Hynes Center.