Iona Advances in Five Sets Over Quinnipiac
MAAC Sports
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Eighth seeded Iona College defeated the tenth seeded Quinnipiac University 3-2 in the out-bracket of the 2014 MAAC Volleyball Championship at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The first set was a back and forth battle with Quinnipiac taking the set 27-25. Tied at six a piece, the Bobcats went on a 9-4 run which began with a kill by Tierra Allen. The Gaels came back to tie the set at 24 but could not secure two straight points. The Bobcats were led by Katie Urycki who had five kills.
The second set was all Iona as they won 25-15. The set was at 10-7 in favor of the Gaels, when Quinnipiac’s Cheyenne Orsi’s attack error and a Bobcats service error led to an Iona 15-8 run to close out the set. The Gaels improved on their kill percentage completing 14 kills on a .407 attack percentage.
The third set belonged to Iona, winning 25-17. The set was as close as 11-8 until Iona went on a 10-3 run. A kill from Taylor Cembalisty and two straight Bobcat errors started the Gaels run. The Gaels were led by Catrina Warren, Taylor Cembalisty, and Kassandra Darnaby who all had three kills.
The fourth set was all Quinnipiac who won 25-16. The Bobcats closed the set on a 10-4 run when a kill from Allen ended the set. Cheyenne Orsi and Katie Urycki each had four kills, while Cody Michaels contributed seven assists.
In the fifth and final set, Iona took the lead early and never looked back. The Gaels opened the set up with a 6-2 run which had three kills and a service ace during that span. The Gaels would take the set 15-6. As a team the Gaels had six kills with an attack percentage of .357. Catrina Warren and Karly White both helped the Gaels secure the win with their two kills a piece, while Caris Myles added five assists in the set.
Darnaby led Iona with 18 kills and Warren added 15 kills and nine digs. Myles led the Gaels with 45 assists. The Bobcats were led by Orsi who added 13 kills while Urycki added 12 kills and nine digs.
Iona advances to the next round of the out-bracket to play the sixth seeded Niagara University today at 2 p.m. Quinnipiac’s season comes to end with an overall record 2-31.