NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College volleyball team dropped a heartbreaking five-set decision at Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Koessler Center. The Gaels snapped their four-match winning streak with the loss.
Freshman OH Claire Archibald posted a match-best 17 kills and 13 digs for her team-high eighth double-double of the year. She has accomplished the feat in six straight and seven of the last nine matches. Junior MH Karly White posted 10 kills and three blocks and hit .421 in the loss. Freshmen OH Amanda Gannon and MH Mia Bonsignore each had 11.5 points for the Maroon & Gold. Gannon had six kills, a block and a career-high five aces to go along with 10 digs. Bonsignore posted nine kills and hit .562 while adding two aces and a block. Freshman RS Taylor Bannister recorded eight kills and five digs.
Senior setter Natalie Ziskin posted her seventh double-double of the year with 29 kills and 10 digs. Rookie setter Emma Rose added 23 assists and eight digs. Freshman libero Jessica Paolucci posted 29 digs in the loss.
Canisius was led by Lauren Siebert’s 17 kills and .438 hitting percentage. Jacklyn Malusa added nine kills and 20 digs while setter Grace Streicher had 44 assists and 11 digs.
After dropping the first set 25-21, Iona took the middle two frames 25-20 and 25-19, never trailing in the third set. The two teams battled to seven tie scores and five lead changes in the fourth set with the Griffs forcing a deciding set with a 25-23 set win. The Griffs out lasted the Gaels 15-8 in the finale.
Iona continues action in Western New York tomorrow at Niagara.