POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist volleyball program opened its 2020-21 spring season on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader against the Iona Gaels. The Red Foxes fought hard, and had a lot of impressive performances, but eventually dropped both matches to the Gaels. 

With the losses, Marist moves to 0-2 on the season, while Iona gets out to a 2-0 start to the season. 
 
 

SUMMARY

• In the first set of match one, the Red Foxes and Gaels were evenly matched all the way through. McKinley Fox served up an ace to give Marist a 22-21 lead, but Iona fought back to earn a 26-24 victory. 
• The Gaels went on to win both the second and third sets of match one by a score of 25-21, despite a huge effort from Jordan Newblatt who had 16 kills and 16 digs. The Red Foxes dropped the first match 3-0. 
• Iona kept the momentum going from match one into match two, and dominated the first set. They would go on to win 25-15. 
• Marist wouldn't quit, and fought till the end of set two. The squads were in a 22-22 stalemate, before Iona was able to close out the set 25-23 and take a 2-0 lead. 
• The Red Foxes regained some momentum in the third set, after back-to-back blocks by the duo of Chidera Udeh and Madelyn Waumans put them in front 22-21. Newblatt would notch kills on two of the last three Marist points, bringing the score to 2-1. 
• The Gaels won the fourth set comfortably, and took match two 3-1. 

 

KEY STATS

• McKinley Fox notched double-doubles in both games. She totaled 35 assists and 12 digs in game one, and 37 assists and 13 digs in game two. 
• Freshman Vanessa Zolg had three total blocks and two service aces in game one, showing her versatility. 
• Sophomore Jordan Rush led the Red Foxes with 12 kills in game two. Newblatt's 16 kills in game one were a match-high. 
• The Red Foxes actually out-killed the Gaels in game one, 42-35. However Iona had the edge in hitting percentage, .217-.110. 
• Iona had a 9-3 advantage in aces in game two. 

  

NOTES

• In game one, Newblatt recorded the first double-double of her career, and missed out on another one in game two by just two kills. On the day, she totaled 24 kills and 28 digs. 
• Senior Jocelyn Gorman tallied a career-high 21 digs in game two. 
• There were some other notable debuts in game one for the Red Foxes. Freshman Sasha van der Merwe had nine kills and three digs, freshman Gabriella Heimbauer had five kills, Freshman Kendall O'Brien had seven digs, anfd freshman Anne Mahler had four digs. 

 

UP NEXT

The Red Foxes head to Lawrenceville, NJ for another MAAC doubleheader on Sunday, March 13 against the Rider Broncs. First serve is scheduled for noon.