NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Stonehill volleyball team opened up the 2025 season on road against Iona College on Friday afternoon. The Gaels were able to get the best of the Skyhawks, taking the match, 3-1.
 
STONEHILL HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Mia Berardino posted a .273 attack percentage, tallying 14 kills on 33 attempts.
• Junior Sammy Franco followed up with 10 kills, while coming one dig shy of a double-double recording nine.
• First-year Kendra Sawyer paced the offense with 38 assists and 12 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Iona jumped out to a 2-0 match lead taking the first and second sets by scores of 25-17 and 25, 21, respectively. But the Skyhawks were not going to be denied.
 
They showed their resilience battled back and edged out the Gaels, 25-23. Junior Sammy Franco was flawless from the floor, registering three kills on seven attempts with zero errors while also recording one block. Fellow junior Abby Farrell was outstanding at the net defensively tallying two of the Skyhawks' six total blocks.
 
Momentum appeared to be flowing back in the direction of the Skyhawks heading into the fourth set. Senior Mia Berardino was outstanding from the floor notching a .333 attack percentage, tallying four kills on nine attempts, while first-year Kendra Sawyer paced the offense with 11 assists.
 
But it was not enough as the Gaels were able to pull out the 25-23 fourth set win.