The Iona College volleyball team participated in the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Conway, SC on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3. 

The Gaels struggled for the first two games of the tournament, as they first lost to the Bradley Braves with set scores of 17-25, 25-15, 12-25 and 19-25. Junior Theresa Harvey led the Gaels with 21 digs, and freshman Caris Myles recorded her first collegiate double-double with 26 assists and 11 digs.

The next day, the Gaels dropped their second game in a row as they lost to the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs in straight sets 18-25, 24-26, 16-25. Sophomore Kelsey Hess led the Gaels with nine kills. Harvey again had a great game, posting 25 digs and Myles recorded 28 assists and three aces. 

“At Coastal Carolina we were feeling the effects of the multiple injuries we had,” said Head Coach Jonathan Killingbeck. “The hard part was that injuries forced us to move players out of their normal positions to fill in for the injured players.  That then had an effect on the team chemistry, and we just were not able to get into a system.”

Harvey was awarded with an all-tournament team award, as the Gaels finished their non-conference schedule with a record of 3-5.

The Gaels opened up their conference schedule against the defending MAAC champions, the Niagara Purple Eagles. It was a tough game for the Gaels, with the Purple Eagles winning in straight sets, 25-15, 25-16 and 25-12. Freshman Katie Marabella led the Gaels with six kills, while freshman Catrina Warren added five kills. Senior captain Nicole Tamburri and Myles split time at the setter position and combined for 20 assists.

“Niagara is a very good team and very polished, but after our loss we just did not feel like we played our best,” Killingbeck said. “To beat a team like Niagara we have to play our best in every skill category. The nice part about our conference schedule is the fact that we will get another shot at season.”

The Gaels have a four-game homestand starting on Oct. 9; they will take on  Manhattan at the Hynes Athletics Center as part of the Dig for the Cure Night, where the team is fundraising money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.