NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Iona College volleyball team wrapped up its weekend at the Yale Tournament on Saturday. Yale swept the Gaels in straight sets, and the Maroon & Gold fell in four sets to Albany.
Sophomore Claire Archibald and senior Karly White each had five kills to lead Iona’s attack against Yale. Sophomore Kait Ferretti recorded 17 assists and sophomore Mia Bonsignore chipped in with one solo block and an assist. Sophomore Jessica Paolucci had a team high seven digs.
Yale nearly doubled Iona’s kill total, allowing them to take the match 25-14, 25-11, and 25-16. Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Wirth had a game high 13 kills on 21 attempts. Junior Kelsey Crawford had 11 sets.
The Gaels bounced back quickly against the Albany, winning the first set 25-23. The Great Danes answered the call in sets two and three, taking them by wide margins 25-12, and 25-14. Iona put up a fight to stay alive in the final set, but fell short, 25-22.
Ferretti had a match high 33 assists, many of which set up Archibald who had a team high 14 kills. Bonsignore had eight kills, White contributed six, and junior Kassandra Darnaby added on five. Sophomore Gabrielle Paccate had a game high 19 digs, followed by Archibald’s 12 and Ferretti’s 11.
The Great Danes used a 7-0 run in the second set, and a 6-0 streak in the third set to secure the momentum swinging sets. Albany hit .444 and .281 in sets two and three, showing a decisive increase compared to the other two competitive first and fourth sets.
Freshman Courtney O’Donnell had a team high 13 kills for the Great Danes. Senior Laini Leindecker added on 11 of her own.
Iona’s next match is against the Stony Brook Seawolves on Wednesday, Sept. 7. The serve tees up in Stony Brook, NY at 7:00 PM.