After a successful home stand at the newly redesigned Hynes Athletics Center the Iona Volleyball Team took to the road to continue Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.

On Oct. 2 the Gaels (6-12 overall, 4-4 MAAC) traveled to Jersey City, N.J. to play Saint Peter’s. Iona won in three sets (25-15, 25-22, 25-13). The Gaels recorded a match best .478 hitting percentage in the third set while holding the Peacocks to a .115 hitting percentage.

Sophomore setter Natalie Ziskin led the charge for the Maroon & Gold with 34 assists and nine digs, missing out on a double-double by just one dig. Senior outside hitter Alicja Pawelec had a good game, amassing 14 kills while her teammate Catrina Warren, a junior outside hitter, recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs.

After their impressive performance in N.J. the Gaels were off to Buffalo, N.Y. to play Canisius. In a very competitive five-set match the Gaels ended up with the loss after leading 2-1. Canisius won the last two sets to win the match. Double-doubles were recorded by Warren (19 kills, 14 digs) and junior outside hitter Taylor Cembalisty (14 kills, 27 digs) while senior outside hitter Madisyn Spence set a career high with 28 digs and Ziskin set a career high with 52 assists in the loss.

“As a team, we know we need to work on staying disciplined throughout the entire match,” Ziskin said about the last two sets in the Canisius match.

Ziskin credits her teammates for her new career high in assists.

“When I’m playing, I focus on running a successful and fast offense. It may be my career high, but all of my success comes from my teammates’ success,” Ziskin said.

The following day, the Gaels took on the Niagara University Purple Eagles. The Gaels made quick work of Niagara, winning all three sets to complete the sweep. Cembalisty posted a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs while Ziskin followed up her career game against Canisius with another 50 assist match.

The Maroon & Gold headed to Manhattan on Oct. 12 for their first meeting of season against the then-first-place Jaspers. The match went to five sets, and Manhattan emerged victorious (21-25, 29-27, 27-29, 25-14, 9-15). The Gaels played a great team game and three different players recorded double-doubles (Warren, Cembalisty and Pawelec). Ziskin set a new career high in assists, this time with 53 in the loss.

Iona, now tied for fifth in the conference, returns home for a four game home stand against MAAC opponents Rider, Saint Peter’s, Marist and Siena.

“The next four home games are going to be big for us,” head coach Jonathan Killingbeck said about the upcoming home stand. “We have to be ready for the different styles each team brings into our house and yet still execute our style of volleyball.”