Under first-year head coach Annie DeLoid, the Red Foxes are one of the top teams in the Metro early in conference play.
After three games on the road, Marist volleyball returned to McCann for their conference home opener, defeating the Iona Gaels in straight sets, 25-16, 26-24, 25-20.
Marist briefly faced adversity from Iona in the second set when they trailed by six, but surged back in feverish fashion to stun the Gaels. There was no stopping the Red Foxes after that, as they cruised to complete the sweep.
“It’s what we talk about in our gym all the time: being gritty, wanting the ball, wanting to be the one to put it down; it doesn’t matter who it is on the team,” said DeLoid. “I think we did a really good job of having that mentality.”
Iona entered undefeated in conference play, boasting the lowest opponent hit percentage in the Metro at .175. They had no answer for Marist’s offense tonight, allowing 43 kills on a .225 hitting percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Mallory Reck made up a vast majority of the Marist offense, ending the night with 18 kills with a 0.410 kill percentage. The Metro leader in kills also recorded a team-high 16 digs.
Marist came out ready in the first set, building a 15-7 lead through the first media timeout. The Red Foxes looked poised from the service line, logging six service aces in the set. The Gaels struggled to piece together offense from Marist’s serves, constantly out of structure, turning in frequent errors and slower attacks. Iona finished the set with a 0.79 hitting percentage and eight kills.
“We put a very big focus on first contact, whether it’s a serve or a pass,” said DeLoid. “Being able to serve seams, and not just at people, is an emphasis.”
The Gaels managed to hang around, turning a 21-9 Marist lead into 23-16, but senior outside hitter Sara Dasic stifled any chance at a comeback, delivering a strike through two Iona defenders to close out the set.
Both squads traded points to open the second frame, but the Gaels outpaced the Red Foxes to build a 21-15 lead, causing DeLoid to use her first timeout.
Refusing to go down quietly, Marist forced their way back into the game. A prompt 3-0 run caused Iona head coach Alyssa Kaufman to call her first timeout of the match. The Gaels stayed in control, reaching set point after a ridiculous rally filled with blocks and diving digs.
Trailing 24-21, DeLoid called her final timeout, and Marist got to work once again.
The duo of Dumas and Reck took over, connecting for consecutive kills as the Red Foxes reached set point, knotting the game at 24, and Kaufman had to call her second timeout to stop the bleeding.
The Gaels tried to hang on, but the momentum had already swung. Reck stuffed the next Iona attack, and Dumas capped off the comeback with a service ace, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
“[Dumas and Reck] are having a season for the ages right now,” said DeLoid of her two stars.
There was no turning back for Marist in the third set, Iona called their first timeout of the frame, trailing 9-6 with a .-182 hitting percentage and five attack errors already.
Back-to-back rockets from Reck grew the Marist advantage to 17-11, and Iona was still floating in the negatives for hit percentage.
Iona briefly encroached within three points at the 23-20 mark, but Marist quickly responded. Reck laced her 18th kill, before an attack from Iona sailed out of bounds and sealed the sweep for Marist.
“We talk about being controlled and calm every day in our gym,” said DeLoid. “I had no doubt in that third set.”
The Red Foxes return to the court Saturday, facing off against the 1-3 Manhattan Jaspers at 4 p.m.
Edited by Izzy Perry
Graphic by Xavier Angel
Photo by Marist Athletics
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