SCORE: Iona 3, Niagara 1 (25-19, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23)
RECORDS: Iona (6-5, 4-1 MAAC), Niagara (3-12, 3-3 MAAC)
 
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Purple Eagles volleyball team dropped a 3-1 match to the Iona Gaels on Sunday.

Match Summary
First Set

• The Gaels had an early 9-6 lead over the Purple Eagles but a 3-0 run from NU, kicked off by a kill from Caroline Leitch, tied things up, 9-9.
• The Purple Eagles soon took control of the board and led the Gaels, 12-10. A 3-0 run from the Gaels put them back in the lead, 13-12, but the Purple Eagles answered with their own 3-0 run to get back on top, 15-13.
• The Purple Eagles and the Gaels went back and forth but a 4-0 run to close out the set from the Gaels gave them the 25-23 set one win.

Second Set

• Midway through the second set, the Gaels led the Purple Eagles, 16-13. A kill and an ace from Jaycie Roberts and a kill from Leitch tied the score, 16-16.
• Two 3-0 runs from the Purple Eagles put them ahead of Iona, 22-19. The Gaels came back to knot the score, 22-22, but Niagara controlled the remainder of the set, winning set two 25-23 to tie up the match, 1-1.

Third Set

• The Gaels dominated early in the first set, taking a 6-1 lead over the Purple Eagles.
• Niagara came within two points of Iona, 12-10, but the Gaels went on a 4-0 run to extend their lead to six, 16-10.
• The Gaels came away with the third set, 25-20, to take the lead in the match, 2-1.

Fourth Set

• The Gaels led 8-5 early in the set, but the Purple Eagles quickly tied things up, 8-8, thanks to kills from Roberts and Jessica Streuer and an ace from Streuer.
• A 5-0 run from Iona gave the team a six-point lead over Niagara, 17-11.
• The Gaels led 23-17 late in the set, but the Purple Eagles went on a 5-0 run, which included three kills from Mary Redl, to come within just one point of the lead, 23-22.
• The Gaels, however, held onto their lead, winning the third set 25-23 and winning the match, 3-1.

Eagle's Eye On…

• Roberts recorded her third straight double-double with 10 kills and 13 digs. It is her fourth overall double-double on the season so far.
• Leitch led the team in kills with 16 and had a team-high 18.0 points. Redl added 10 kills, tying her career-high.
• Reva Blitz recorded a career-high 20 digs.
• Streuer led the team with 37 assists and also added 11 digs.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center next weekend, hosting Quinnipiac on Saturday, Oct. 6 and Fairfield on Sunday, Oct. 7. Both matches will begin at 1:00 p.m.

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