The Iona Volleyball team battled Canisius on Oct. 30 on the road in Buffalo, New York, coming away with a win and moving their record on the year to 16-9.  

The team currently sits second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season standings with three games left in the regular season.  

Iona beat Canisius inside of three sets winning the first set 25-15, the second set with a score of 27-25 and the third set 25-23. 

 Fleur Wiersma and Emma Jacobs reached double-figures in kills for the second straight match leading the Gaels’ offensive attack. Samantha Juran and Tamara Pichardo accounted for all but one of Iona’s 35 assists during the game. 

 On the defensive side Hope Matschner finished with a match-high 31 digs as Julia Thomas matched a season-high seven blocks. 

The three games left in the season are all home games. They will play against Fairfield University on Nov. 5, Quinnipiac University on Nov. 6 and close out the season against Manhattan College on Nov. 12.  

Last season the Gaels won one and lost one against Fairfield University, beat Quinnipiac University in both games they played against them, and beat Manhattan College twice. The Gaels are 8-1 at home this season, 6-7 on the road and 11-4 in the MAAC.  

First year head coach Andy Mueller has led his team to eleven wins against MAAC opponents so far this year which is the most wins in a season for the Gaels in MAAC play since 2018. 

 Mueller looks to lead his team to the program’s third MAAC title as the Gaels won the MAAC Championship in 2004 and 2018. Iona reached the MAAC Tournament last season but have not won a round in the tournament since 2018 when they won it all in Walt Disney World, where it is again being hosted this season.  

While Iona currently sits in second place in the MAAC regular season standings, Fairfield University is in first place with a record of 19-6 and 13-1 in conference play, with Marist College in third place, tied with the Gaels on 15-10, 11-4 in MAAC play.  

Siena College, Canisius College, Quinnipiac University, Rider University and Niagara University round out the standings from fourth to eighth place respectfully.  

The 2022 MAAC Championship Tournament kicks off with the first round on Nov. 17 at Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The MAAC Championship game will be played on Nov. 19. 

The last time the MAAC Championships were hosted in Walt Disney World, Iona came away as MAAC Champions. The Gaels will look to strike gold again and cap off their season by becoming the 2022 MAAC Champions.