Though the final score displayed a 3-0 sweep for Marist over Iona, Saturday night’s match was far from simple.
Only six points separated the two squads in the entire match, as all three sets came down to the last few rallies.
“I think we stayed calm and cool in those tight moments,” said freshman outside hitter Mallory Reck.
When Marist needed her most late in sets, Reck came through. The freshman set a new career high in kills with 16, doing so in just three sets. Reck only committed two attack errors, leading to an astounding .341 hitting percentage. She also added eight digs and an ace on her new topspin serve, which she only started working on in practice earlier this week.
“[She’s] so willing to try new stuff and step out of her comfort zone, and that’s why she’s so good,” head coach Sean Byron said.
Reck wasted no time getting started, slamming four kills as Marist jumped out to an early 10-3 lead. The Gaels burned a timeout as their offense struggled mightily to find Marist’s side of the floor – their hitting percentage sat deep in the negatives.
Whatever head coach Alyssa Kaufman said in the timeout worked; Iona blocked junior outside hitter Sara Dasic and freshman right-side hitter Ava Lanzetta on consecutive points, kicking off a 4-0 scoring run that got the Gaels back in the set.
While Iona inched closer, graduate student setter Claire Lewis gave the Red Foxes some breathing room with strong serving. She placed two aces on a 5-0 run, pushing Marist’s lead to 22-14.
Despite being in an eight-point hole as Marist approached set point, the Gaels did not back down; efficient serving from sophomore outside hitter Kari Smith on a six-point scoring streak brought Iona within striking distance.
However, Marist never let them tie the score, despite numerous instances when Iona only trailed by one.
Reck ended the set, preventing a disastrous collapse, by swinging for a kill off the Iona block. Outside of Reck and freshman right-side hitter Eleana Koute, Iona’s defense gave Marist’s hitters fits in the first set.
The Red Foxes as a team swung for a paltry .085 hitting percentage. Reck had five kills on 11 attempts, while Koute scored four on seven swings; the two freshmen carried Marist offensively.
While Reck put up another impressive set in the second, Dasic got it going after an error-filled first set; she picked up four kills to get her hitting percentage out of the negatives.
Neither team distanced themselves through the duration of the set; Marist and Iona traded points until the scoreboard read 23-all. The Gaels had the first set point opportunity, after junior middle blocker Buse Tinaz and senior setter Caleigh Schroeder put up a clutch block on Reck.
With Iona on the verge of tying the match at one, the Red Foxes swiftly stole the set from under them.
Sophomore right-side Taylor Miller, who came off the bench to relieve Lanzetta, ripped a kill out of serve receive. Freshman setter Caelyn Dumas served an ace, then freshman outside hitter Julia Leonardo swung into the net, clinching a 26-24 win for Marist.
In danger of getting swept for the second consecutive night, Iona staked early control of the third set. They held a healthy lead until a 6-0 run with Dasic at the line gave Marist its first lead of the set; Dasic tied it at 17, then Reck put Marist ahead with a timely kill.
It was a tug-of-war from there. Reck landed three kills in a five-point span to get Marist to match point, leading 24-22. Iona knotted the score at 24, but the Red Foxes held on, winning 26-24 after a kill from Dasic and a tip from freshman middle blocker Gabby Taylor narrowly missed the sideline.
The win puts Marist at 4-1 in the MAAC, where they currently rank fourth in conference standings. It has been night and day compared to last season, where Marist posted a 3-15 record in MAAC play.
“It puts us in a good spot,” said Byron regarding Saturday’s win. “We want to be here.”
The Red Foxes have their toughest test awaiting them next Friday: a date with the Fairfield Stags at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.
The Stags have won back-to-back MAAC Tournaments and hold a 38-3 record against conference opponents since 2023. Since Mahoney Arena’s opening after the 2022 season, Fairfield has not lost a single game in MAAC play on their home floor.
But first, they have one last non-conference game on their schedule: Marist hosts Holy Cross on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Edited by Ava Battinelli
Graphic by Eugene Barbieri
Photo from Xavier Angel
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