Minlend Registers Double-Double, Quinnipiac Drops Metro Opener at Iona

Friday, September 25

New Rochelle, NY

5:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

1-11,0-1Metro

Iona

6-7,1-0Metro

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Quinnipiac	19	18	25	23	1
Iona	25	25	20	25	3

Women's Volleyball Team Huddle at Delaware State (9/4/26)

Photo by: Sean Holmes / OTM Studios

Minlend Registers Double-Double, Quinnipiac Drops Metro Opener at Iona

9/25/2026 8:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The Quinnipiac women's volleyball team opened conference action on Friday afternoon, falling in four sets against Iona, 3-1 (19-25, 18-25, 25-20, 23-25), at the Hynes Athletics Center.

FINAL SCORE
Iona 3, Quinnipiac 1

LOCATION
Hynes Athletics Center | New Rochelle, N.Y.

RECORDS
Quinnipiac (1-11, 0-1 METRO) | Iona (6-7, 1-0 METRO)

NOTES

Sophia Minlend led the Bobcats' offense with a match-high 16 kills while adding 17 digs for a double-double, along with two service aces.
Asia Belli turned in an efficient performance at the net, recording seven kills on a .333 hitting percentage alongside a team-high four total blocks (one solo, three assists).
Klara Olszewska directed the Quinnipiac offense, dishing out 33 assists while also adding four kills.
Giulia Ragusa posted six kills, five digs, and two service aces.
Sahra Ozbiltekin contributed six kills and five digs.
Didar Bulbul anchored the back row, registering a team-high 23 digs and four assists.
Quinnipiac compiled six service aces and nine total team blocks on the afternoon.
Iona earns its first win over the Bobcats since Oct. 8, 2022.

GAME REWIND

Set 1 (Iona 25, Quinnipiac 19): The opening set featured back-and-forth action early with four ties. Kills from Belli and Minlend kept the Bobcats close, but a mid-set 7-0 run by the Gaels gave Iona a 16-9 lead. QU rallied late with strikes from Minlend and Ragusa but Iona eventually claimed the opening set 25-19.
Set 2 (Iona 25, Quinnipiac 18): Early kills from Vittoria Tonelli and Ragusa kept Quinnipiac within striking distance at 6-5. Iona responded with an 8-1 surge to extend its advantage to 14-6. Minlend and Olszewska tallied late kills, but the Gaels hit .161 in the frame to take a 2-0 match lead.
Set 3 (Quinnipiac 25, Iona 20): Refusing to back down, the Bobcats bounced back with an energetic third set. Trailing early, QU used a 5-0 run fueled by a Ragusa ace and blocks from Sila Yildiz and Belli to build a 11-8 advantage. Consecutive kills by Ozbiltekin widened the gap to 18-11. Following an Iona push, Ragusa put down a clutch strike and delivered an ace to set up set point, which Ozbiltekin sealed with a kill to take the set 25-20.
Set 4 (Iona 25, Quinnipiac 23): The final frame was a tight battle featuring three ties and two lead changes. Iona constructed a 15-8 lead before Quinnipiac mounted a relentless comeback. Trailing 19-14, the Bobcats staged a 4-0 surge with consecutive service aces from Minlend and a block by Belli and Olszewska to cut the deficit to 19-18. An ace from Belli and a kill by Yildiz pulled QU ahead 23-22 late, but Iona scored the final three points to secure the 25-23 set and win the match.

NEXT UP
The Bobcats continue Metro Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26 when they head to Riverdale to face Manhattan. First serve is scheduled for 2:00 PM.

For more information on the Quinnipiac women's volleyball program, visit gobobcats.com or follow the team on Instagram/X @QU_WVB.