Volleyball 9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Volleyball Loses Two at Golden Flash Invitational

Kent State Box Score
Youngstown State Box Score

The Canisius College volleyball team dropped both of its matches Saturday at the Golden Flash Invitational, falling in three games to Kent State and losing 30-16, 19-30, 30-19, 30-21 to Youngstown State.

Against Youngstown State (6-4), Michella Domo (Vancouver, B.C.) matched her season-high with 17 kills while junior Nicole Fafard (East Setauket, N.Y.) had 10 kills to go along with a career-high 19 digs. Michelle Godfrey (Tonawanda, N.Y.) had nine kills while Brittany Gerde (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Renee Lettow (Lindenhurst, N.Y) each had eight kills.

In the first two games, each team built big leads to comfortably win the game. The Penguins broke it open by turning a 13-7 advantage into a 21-9 lead. The Griffs gained control in game two by going on a 9-3 run to go up 23-13.

After Youngstown State won game three, the teams stayed close throughout game four, with the Griffs (1-9) down 20-18. The Penguins went on a 6-1 run to put the match away.

Youngstown State had three players with at least 14 kills, as Jessica Fraley and Ebony Barbosa each had 15 kills for the Penguins.

“We played two good teams today, especially facing a highly-ranked Kent State team. Youngstown State is another solid team, but we need to start getting wins from those matches,” Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. “Michella and Jess played great for us all weekend.

“We're eager to get home for three matches starting with Buffalo on Tuesday, and we're looking forward to the start of conference play next weekend.”

In the first match of the day for Canisius, host Kent State continued its perfect start to the season by defeating the Golden Griffins 30-25, 30-15, 30-23.

Domo led all players in the match with 15 kills on 24 attempts and hit .500 in the match. Godfrey matched her career high with 10 kills. Jess Stackhouse (Warsaw, N.Y.) had 23 digs while Fafard had a career-high 14 assists to go along with 14 digs.

Kent State (9-0) won the first three points of game one and never relinquished the lead. The Griffs cut the lead to two points on three separate occasions but could never battle all the way back. After Kent State easily won game two, the Golden Flashes built an eight-point lead midway through game three to gain control of that game and take the match.

The Golden Flashes had four players with at least nine kills, led by 13 from Lauren Jones.

Canisius closes out its non-conference schedule with a home match against the University at Buffalo Tuesday. Match time at the Koessler Athletic Center is set for 7 p.m.

Match Notes: Godfrey also had 10 kills against West Virginia on Sunday... Fafard has 48 digs in the last three matches... The Griffs had four players with double-digit dig totals for the first time since Oct. 28, 2006, at Manhattan...Lettow's attack percentage of .304 in the match against Youngstown State was her highest of the season... Stackhouse averaged 7.40 digs per game Canisius and Kent State played once previously, a 3-2 loss in the 2002 season... The Griffs and Penguins went five games in each of their last two matches.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Michella Domo: MH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#6 Nicole Fafard: OH; 5' 8"; Junior

#12 Brittany Gerde: S; 6' 0"; Junior

#14 Michelle Godfrey: MH/RS; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#2 Renee Lettow: OH; 5' 10"; Freshman

#13 Jess Stackhouse: L; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#11 Michella Domo
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MH

#6 Nicole Fafard
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OH

#12 Brittany Gerde
: 6' 0"; Junior
: S

#14 Michelle Godfrey
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: MH/RS

#2 Renee Lettow
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: OH

#13 Jess Stackhouse
: 5' 8"; Senior
: L