JERSEY CITY- Saint Peter's (5-17, 4-5 METRO) fall to Iona in five sets (24-26, 25-16, 25-23, 21-25, 10-15) on Saturday afternoon.
Valeria Pagan Munoz hit a career total of 500 kills as she helped the Peacocks stay in the match.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE-
Iona struggled to keep up with Saint Peter's as Victoria Pruvost introduced herself to the game as she got her first two kills of the match; soon after, Alondra Fargas would serve an ace and two assists, with Munoz and Baglio being credited with the kills.
The Gaels started to bounce back after the media timeout with a five-point run to cut SPU's lead down to 17-13, forcing the Peacocks to use their first timeout of the set.
Munoz put a stop to Iona's offense by getting two kills following the timeout; the Gaels continued to apply pressure as the score sat at 21-21, with an attack error giving them the lead.
Both the Peacocks and Iona went kill for kill till Iona added two more points to end the set at 24-26.
SET TWO-
The second set was a dominant performance for the Peacocks as they kicked off with a 5-1 start, with Fargas handing three assists to give them the early lead. The Gaels responded with two kills to cut the lead to three.
Iona's struggles helped the Peacocks go on multiple runs, with Indira T. Benitez Dumeng, Munoz, and Pruvost proving to be threats on the offensive end.
The Peacocks continued to be a problem, with Baglio calling the set with a kill to end it at 25-16 in favor of Saint Peter's.
SET THREE-
Saint Peter's kicked off the third set with a 3-1 run, with Iona responding with a kill and two attack errors to tie it up at 4-4. The Gaels began to pull away with two more kills, forcing the Peacocks to use their first timeout of the set.
Following the timeout, Pruvost and Baglio ignited the SPU offense with a kill, with Meleksu Ozmen getting two assists. Pruvost continued to play a huge role in the set as she added another kill, with Munoz following behind with a kill of her own.
It would be another nail-biting set as neither team wanted to give up, the Gaels taking the lead late in the set, but ultimately it was Saint Peter's who took the set at 25-23 following a crucial kill from Munoz to give SPU the 2-1 series advantage.
SET FOUR-
Saint Peter's attacked first with an ace from Baglio following an attack error, but the Gaels responded with three kills to create an early lead.
Iona would go on a four-point run with SPU calling a timeout early into the set; Baglio snapped the Gaels' run with a kill following the timeout.
Later in the set, it was all Iona as the Peacocks began to mount a comeback with Mendez, Pruvost and Whaley trying to pull SPU ahead to close out the match, but it was not enough as the Gaels would get a kill and attack error in their favor to extend the game to five sets.
SET FIVE-
With the game tied at 2-2, the Peacocks looked to close out the set with an early lead, with Mendez getting two kills and Munoz adding another kill to her line.
Iona countered with a six-point run to take the lead at 10-6 following a SPU timeout; the Peacocks tried to pull themselves ahead with Munoz and Mendez leading the charge, but it was not enough as a kill and two attack errors would send the Peacocks home at 15-10 in what was a competitive match.
UP NEXT-
Saint Peter's will be hitting the road as they face Merrimack on Friday, Oct. 23rd at 6 p.m. for a Metro Conference showdown.
