Saturday, November 18
Fairfield,Conn.
6:00 PM
Quinnipiac University
19-9,14-4MAAC
3
vs
1
Iona
15-16,10-8MAAC
1
2
3
4
F
Iona
18
19
25
21
1
Quinnipiac
25
25
20
25
3
Photo by: Ephemia Nicolakis
Bobcats Advance to MAAC Championship Game With Victory Over Iona
11/18/2023 8:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The No. 2 Quinnipiac women's volleyball team earned a berth in the MAAC Championship game for the second consecutive season after downing No. 6 Iona in four sets inside Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Saturday evening.
Ginevera Giovagnoni led the Bobcats with 27 kills and 21 digs for a double-double. Fellow All-MAAC performer Aryanah Diaz notched a double-double as well with 15 kills and 20 digs in the semifinal victory. Reigning MAAC Setter of the Year, Damla Gunes, led all players with 48 assists and totaled 13 digs for the double-double.
With the victory, Quinnipiac earns a chance to repeat as MAAC Champions again as the Bobcats have advanced to the title game for the second year in a row.
LOCATION
Leo D. Mahoney Arena | Fairfield, Conn.
Records
No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (19-9, 13-4 MAAC) | No. 6 Iona Gaels (15-16, 10-8 MAAC)
Quinnipiac 3, Iona 1
SET ONE (25-18, Quinnipiac)
The two sides traded points to a 7-7 tie before a 5-0 run from the Bobcats pushed Quinnipiac ahead 12-7 in the frame. Three of Quinnipiac's five points on the run came off kills from Ginevra Giovagnoni. The Gaels responded with a 7-3 run to trim the Bobcats' lead to 15-14 entering the media timeout.
Out of the break, Iona went on a 3-0 run to take a 17-15 lead in the set. However, the Bobcats responded with a 5-0 run to take a 20-17 lead, forcing an Iona timeout. The Gaels were able to cut their deficit to as close as 20-18, but it wasn't enough as QU took the opening set 25-18.
SET TWO (25-19)
The second set was tightly contested early on, with the two sides trading points to a 12-12 tie before the Bobcats went on a 3-0 run to take a 15-12 lead into the media timeout. Out of the break, the Gaels trimmed Quinnipiac's lead to 15-14 before the Bobcats responded with a 4-0 run to increase the advantage to 19-14, forcing an Iona timeout.
The deficit proved to be too much for Iona, as the Bobcats cruised to a 25-19 set win.
SET THREE (20-25)
The two sides played to a 10-10 tie in the early goings of the set before Quinnipiac went on a 5-2 run to carry a 15-12 lead into the media timeout.
Out of the break, Iona responded with a 10-4 run before Quinnipiac called a timeout to halt the momentum, trailing 22-19. The Bobcats were unable to recover, as Iona took the set 25-20.
SET FOUR (25-21)
Despite falling behind early in the set 4-1, the Bobcats responded by taking a 15-11 lead into the media timeout. Out of the timeout, the Bobcats were relentless, building their lead to 21-15 in the frame.
Iona was unable to recover, as the Bobcats took the set 25-21 and ultimately the match in four sets.
NOTES:
NEXT UP
The Bobcats will be back in action on Sunday, Nov. 19, when QU takes on top-seeded Fairfield in the MAAC Championship game. Match start is set for 1 p.m. inside Leo D. Mahoney Arena on ESPN+.
FOLLOW US
To stay up-to-date on news surrounding Quinnipiac volleyball, follow the program on social media @QU_WVB and on gobobcats.com.
Ginevera Giovagnoni led the Bobcats with 27 kills and 21 digs for a double-double. Fellow All-MAAC performer Aryanah Diaz notched a double-double as well with 15 kills and 20 digs in the semifinal victory. Reigning MAAC Setter of the Year, Damla Gunes, led all players with 48 assists and totaled 13 digs for the double-double.
With the victory, Quinnipiac earns a chance to repeat as MAAC Champions again as the Bobcats have advanced to the title game for the second year in a row.
LOCATION
Leo D. Mahoney Arena | Fairfield, Conn.
Records
No. 2 Quinnipiac Bobcats (19-9, 13-4 MAAC) | No. 6 Iona Gaels (15-16, 10-8 MAAC)
Quinnipiac 3, Iona 1
SET ONE (25-18, Quinnipiac)
The two sides traded points to a 7-7 tie before a 5-0 run from the Bobcats pushed Quinnipiac ahead 12-7 in the frame. Three of Quinnipiac's five points on the run came off kills from Ginevra Giovagnoni. The Gaels responded with a 7-3 run to trim the Bobcats' lead to 15-14 entering the media timeout.
Out of the break, Iona went on a 3-0 run to take a 17-15 lead in the set. However, the Bobcats responded with a 5-0 run to take a 20-17 lead, forcing an Iona timeout. The Gaels were able to cut their deficit to as close as 20-18, but it wasn't enough as QU took the opening set 25-18.
SET TWO (25-19)
The second set was tightly contested early on, with the two sides trading points to a 12-12 tie before the Bobcats went on a 3-0 run to take a 15-12 lead into the media timeout. Out of the break, the Gaels trimmed Quinnipiac's lead to 15-14 before the Bobcats responded with a 4-0 run to increase the advantage to 19-14, forcing an Iona timeout.
The deficit proved to be too much for Iona, as the Bobcats cruised to a 25-19 set win.
SET THREE (20-25)
The two sides played to a 10-10 tie in the early goings of the set before Quinnipiac went on a 5-2 run to carry a 15-12 lead into the media timeout.
Out of the break, Iona responded with a 10-4 run before Quinnipiac called a timeout to halt the momentum, trailing 22-19. The Bobcats were unable to recover, as Iona took the set 25-20.
SET FOUR (25-21)
Despite falling behind early in the set 4-1, the Bobcats responded by taking a 15-11 lead into the media timeout. Out of the timeout, the Bobcats were relentless, building their lead to 21-15 in the frame.
Iona was unable to recover, as the Bobcats took the set 25-21 and ultimately the match in four sets.
NOTES:
- With the win, the Bobcats advance to the MAAC Championship game for the second season in a row
- Head Coach Kyle Robinson earned his 61st win as the leader of the program, the most by any coach in program history
- Robinson boasts seven playoff victories as the head coach of the Bobcats, the most by any head coach in program history
- Quinnipiac is up to 19 wins on the season with the victory, the most in one season during the Kyle Robinson era
- Quinnipiac saw three players record a double-double, as Ginevra Giovagnoni, Aryanah Diaz and Damla Gunes all accomplished the feat in the victory.
- Giovagnoni totaled 27 kills and 21 digs in the win
- Diaz recorded 15 kills, 20 digs, three total blocks and two service aces
- Damla Gunes notched 48 assists and 13 digs in the victory
NEXT UP
The Bobcats will be back in action on Sunday, Nov. 19, when QU takes on top-seeded Fairfield in the MAAC Championship game. Match start is set for 1 p.m. inside Leo D. Mahoney Arena on ESPN+.
FOLLOW US
To stay up-to-date on news surrounding Quinnipiac volleyball, follow the program on social media @QU_WVB and on gobobcats.com.
Team Stats
Iona
QU
Kills
49
58
Errors
23
23
Attempts
160
171
Hitting %
.163
.205
Points
59.0
73.0
Assists
45
58
Aces
5
8
Blocks
5
7
Game Leaders
Kills
27
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH/OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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