Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

New Rochelle, N.Y.- La Salle Volleyball returned to .500 on the year thanks to two wins on the second day of the Iona Invitational over Bryant, 3-2  (27-25, 25-23, 21-25, 23-25, 15-13), and Iona, 3-1 (25-23, 26-24, 20-25, 36-34). The Explorers tied for first place in the tournament and placed junior Michelle Healy and freshman Bryanna Davis on the all-tournament team.
 
In their first match of the day the Explorers pulled out a thrilling 3-2 win over Bryant. After pulling out the first two sets by narrow two point margins, the Explorers dropped the next two sets, to set up a winner takes all set three that La Salle was able to capture 15-13 to take the match.
 
Kelly Perillo paced the Explorers with 16 kills in the match, while Laura Kuhlmeier provided 14 kills of her own on offense. Four La Salle players contributed double digit kills; Perillo, Kuhmeier, Michelle Healy, and Bryanna Davis. Healy also contributed 47 assists on the match.
 
The Blue and Gold jumped out to an early lead in set one holding a 10-5 advantage after a Perillo kill and forcing a Bulldog timeout. Bryant fought back however and tied things at 25-25. Back-to-back kills from Ashley Felton and Jennifer Whelan sealed the first set for the Explorers giving them an early 1-0 advantage. Felton led the Explorers with five kills in set one, hitting at a .364 clip.
 
La Salle again battled Bryant in set two and came out with a narrow 25-23 set win. With things all tied up at 22-22, the Explorers took three of the next four points to win the set. Whelan had the kill to set up set point, which was ultimately won thanks to a Phoebe Cook kill. Perillo led La Salle with four kills in the set and hit at .444 in the set. Healy provided nine assists in the set that saw the Explorers take advantage of three service aces in the set.
 
La Salle fell in the next two sets to even things at 2-2 and set up a winner-take-all fifth set. The Explorers fell in set three, 21-25 and set four, 23-25.
 
The Explorers were able to overcome dropping the two previous sets, and rebound with a big 15-13 win in set five to give them the match.
 
Again, set five proved to be about as even as possible, but at the end, the Explorers were able to find a little extra in the tank and win the pivotal points. Down 01-13, La Salle was able to rally off five straight points to take the set. A block by freshman Hannah McGary helped force the Bulldogs into facing match point. There Davis rallied off her fourth straight serve and capped off the match with a service ace to give the Explorers with win. The ace, was the 15^th on the day for the Explorers.
 
In the second match of the day, the Explorer persevered to pull out the longest set they have played in of the season, a 36-34 fourth set to win the final match of the day 3-1 over the host Gaels.
 
In set one, the Explorers jumped out to an early 11-5 lead and were able to able to pull out the set thanks to some clutch hitting. With the set tied at 23-23, Felton and Perillo had back-to-back kills to finish off the set. Perillo and Felton led the team with six and four kills respectively. Junior Erin Noga tallied eight digs in the set to lead the defensive effort.
 
La Salle reversed course in set two, as they fell into an early 2-7 deficit, but were able to close the gap and ultimately take the set. Again, Perillo paced the Explorers with six kills in the set. Noga added another eight dig effort in the set to help lead the defensive effort.
 
After dropping a close third set, 20-25, the battled back and persevered through a marathon of a fourth set to ultimately pull it out, 36-34 and take the match 3-1. After going back and forth the entire set, a Perillo kill gave the Explorers the much deserved victory. Perillo ended the set with nine kills and had 25 total kills in the match. Five La Salle players had double-digit digs, with Noga leading the way (19), Davis (15), Healy (13), Kuhlmeier (13) and Perillo (11) joined her. The team added 11 service aces and six team blocks in the win.
 
The Explorers return to action Wednesday when they head to Queens, N.Y. to take on St. John's with first serve coming at 6:00 p.m.