LIU Ends Weekend in Queens on a High Note, Sweeping Iona

LIU Volleyball faced a tough weekend, going 1-2 in their trio of matches, but the Sharks finished strong with a 3-0 sweep over Iona in their final match in Queens. Despite losses to Bryant and St. John’s, LIU showed resilience and improvement, especially in their decisive victory to close out the weekend.

Game 1: Bryant Defeats LIU (3-1)

Score: Bryant 3, LIU 1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 26-24)

In their first match of the weekend, LIU faced off against a strong Bryant team. LIU dropped the match 3-1 but showed competitiveness, especially in the second and fourth sets.

Set 1: Bryant took the opening set 25-20, outpacing LIU with 18 kills and a .268 hitting percentage. LIU struggled to find consistency, committing four errors on 50 attempts, leading to a .220 attack percentage.

Set 2: LIU responded well in the second set, edging Bryant 25-23. The Sharks relied on their defense and limited Bryant to a .111 hitting percentage, while key kills from Camelia Melendez and Iremnur Elmas helped secure the set.

Set 3: Bryant bounced back in the third set, winning 25-20. LIU struggled offensively, hitting only .089 with six errors. Bryant’s offense, led by Celine Mukura, proved too much for the Sharks, who couldn’t maintain the momentum from the second set.

Set 4: The fourth set was the closest of the match, with Bryant narrowly winning 26-24. LIU played their best volleyball of the day, hitting .222 and matching Bryant kill-for-kill, but critical errors down the stretch allowed Bryant to secure the match.

Game 2: St. John's Sweeps LIU (3-0)

Score: St. John's 3, LIU 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-18)

In their second match, LIU faced off against St. John's, a Big East powerhouse. The Sharks were swept 3-0 but played with heart, especially in the second set, where they pushed the Red Storm to the brink.

Set 1: LIU started slowly, hitting just .103 in the first set, as St. John’s took advantage of seven errors to win 25-20. The Red Storm were led by Erin Jones, who had 17 kills and hit .243 for the match.

Set 2: LIU’s strongest showing came in the second set, where they kept pace with St. John's and nearly forced a fourth set. The Sharks hit .243 in the set, their highest percentage of the match, but fell just short, losing 25-23.

Set 3: St. John’s closed out the match with a dominant 25-18 win. LIU’s offense faltered, hitting a match-low -.148 with nine errors. The Red Storm capitalized, securing the sweep.

Game 3: LIU Sweeps Iona (3-0)

Score: LIU 3, Iona 0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-19)

The Sharks ended the weekend on a high note, sweeping Iona in three sets for a much-needed victory. LIU controlled the match from start to finish, showcasing their potential with strong offense, defense, and serving.

Set 1: LIU came out firing in the first set, dominating Iona 25-11. The Sharks hit .524 as a team and were led by Bria Plante and Jordan MacDonald, who combined for seven kills in the set. LIU’s defense was equally impressive, holding Iona to a low hitting percentage.

Set 2: In the second set, LIU continued to apply pressure, winning 25-18. Selina Koc distributed the ball well while Iremnur, Elmas, and MacDonald continued to lead the offensive charge. LIU’s blocking was a key factor, with Plante and MacDonald combining for six total blocks.

Set 3: LIU closed out the match with a 25-19 win in the third set. The Sharks’ defense stifled Iona’s attack. LIU’s balanced offense featured contributions from multiple players, with Elmas and MacDonald delivering the key points to finish the sweep.

Takeaways from the Weekend:

LIU showed resilience despite a 1-2 record over the weekend, highlighted by their strong finish against Iona. While the losses to Bryant and St. John's exposed some areas for improvement, the Sharks demonstrated their potential, especially in the sweep of Iona. The balanced play of MacDonald, Elmas, and Plante, combined with the consistent setting of Koc, positions LIU well as they head into NEC play.

Following the strong performances against top squads and an easy dispatch of Iona, LIU- a very tough team to read on the season- has shown that their early season record has been in large part due to the brutal non-conference schedule they’ve faced. They’ve got one game at Binghamton before they dive into NEC play. Expect the Sharks to take a bite out of the rest of the NEC, and buy stock now- this is a contender for the NEC Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.