Despite being down 14-12 in the fifth set, the Canisius College volleyball team found success once again in a five-set match by defeating Saint Peter's 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 19-25, 16-14 at the Yanitelli Center in Jersey City, N.J. on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Griffins improve to 9-5 overall and are 4-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for the second time in three seasons.

Four Golden Griffins had double-digit kills, led by 14 from senior Morgan Ammons, who had her fourth consecutive double-double by recording 14 digs. Junior Michelle Godfrey led the team with a .375 attack percentage with 11 kills and three errors on 24 attempts. Senior libero Sarah Podlesh set a career-high for the third time in four matches with a match-high 32 digs.

“Anytime you win in five sets, your team shows good character because it's a battle to go the distance and get a victory,” Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. “We got some great defensive play from Sarah Podlesh who kept us in the match.”

Canisius would face two match points in the fifth set, but won the last four points of the match to escape with the victory. Saint Peter's turned a 9-9 tie into a 14-12 lead, getting three straight kills from Stephanie Phillips. The Griffs took the match by winning four straight points thanks to the duo of Brittany Gerde and Godfrey. Gerde started the run with a kill, followed by a kill from Godfrey. After another kill by Gerde, the two Golden Griffins combined on a block to win the match.

Canisius would score five consecutive points midway through the first set to turn a 12-10 lead into a 17-10 advantage as the Griffs got kills from Gerde and Layne Adams during the run. Saint Peter's responded with a victory in the second set. After Canisius tied the score at 16-16 on a kill from Gerde, the Peahens won the next two points and nine of the final 12 to even the match. and

The Griffs regained the lead with a third-set victory that featured five Golden Griffins runs of winning at least three points in the set. Saint Peter's would tie it again by winning the fourth set, going on a 10-2 run to take a 21-15 lead, getting four service aces during the run.

Kate McFadden led Saint Peter's (7-11, 2-3) with 12 kills. Caroline Garvey had 44 assists and 27 digs while posting four kills on nine attempts.

Canisius closes out the weekend at Fairfield on Sunday. Match time is set for 2 p.m.

Match Notes: Freshman Janelle Davis posted her fifth double-double of the season (44 assists, 12 digs), matching the total of teammate Renee Lettow from last season... Canisius has won the last seven meetings with Saint Peter's and now leads the all-time series 13-12... Canisius improves to 5-2 in five-set matches in 2008. The five victories in five-set matches are the most since the Griffs had a program-record six in 1998... Ammons led the team in kills for the 11th time overall and eighth time in the last nine matches... Podlesh is averaging 5.28 digs per set in the last four matches.