NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Saint Peter's University volleyball (6-16, 1-10 MAAC) took the Iona Gaels (8-17, 3-8 MAAC) to a full five set match at Hynes Athletics Center on Saturday, but ultimately fell by a score of 2-3 (19-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-19, 11-15).
The Peacocks traded sets back and forth with the Gaels, leading to a deciding fifth set. Iona took an early lead in the final set, but Saint Peter's stayed close as
Karolina T. Rodriguez Mendez racked up a few kills. The Gaels managed to put the Peacocks away with two kills.
Addison Baglio had her best performance of the season with a near double-double (kills-digs) performance. She finished with a team-high 11 kills along with nine digs on the receiving end.
Valeria Pagan Munoz tied her career-high in digs with 18.
Alondra Fargas was the main facilitator for the Peacocks, averaging 4.2 assists per set.
Despite the loss, Saint Peter's finished the day with 18 blocks compared to Iona's nine.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: Saint Peter's took an early 5-2 lead over Iona, but the Gaels responded with a big run to take a hefty, 12-6, advantage. The Peacocks scored a few points, but Iona held on to their large lead as the set continued. Later on, a series of Iona attack errors and kills by Baglio and Pagan Munoz brought SPU within three at 15-18. Back-to-back points by the Gaels put an end to Saint Peter's scoring run. The Gaels finished it off with three kills to take set one, 25-19.
SET TWO: Neither team gained separation until the Peacocks racked up seven unanswered points to go up 12-7.
Jaizahir Marrero George was a large factor in the run, picking up multiple kills and blocks. Iona came back to tie things up at 15 all, but Saint Peter's kept its composure. Rodriguez Mendez and Marrero George recorded kills down the stretch to help SPU win the set, 25-20.
SET THREE: The Gaels jumped out to a large lead right away in set three, outscoring the Peacocks, 12-3. Saint Peter's showed a lot of fight to get back in the match, but a 6-0 scoring run by Iona put the Gaels out of reach. Iona won set three, 25-18, with the final two points being kills.
SET FOUR: In a crucial set four, the Peacocks jumped out to a fast start this time, taking an 11-5 lead over the Gaels. As the set went on, Iona began to find its footing. The Gaels came back against Saint Peter's to go up 16-13. With the end of the match in Iona's sight, the Peacocks faced a 16-19 deficit. A service error by the Gaels spurred an SPU run in the closing moments of the set. Baglio and
Indira T. Benitez Dumeng recorded key kills and blocks as Saint Peter's finished the set on a 9-0 run to keep things alive. The Peacocks won the set, 25-19.
SET FIVE: In the deciding set, Iona capitalized on early Saint Peter's errors to go up, 4-1. The Peacocks then found themselves trailing, 5-7, staying in it with the help of Iona errors. The Gaels then outscored SPU, 5-2, to take a 12-7 advantage late in the set. Rodriguez Mendez had a pair of kills that gave the Peacocks life, but the Gaels pulled it out, 15-11, with two kills of their own.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks return to Run Baby Run Arena for a home match against Rider on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. ET.
