Volleyball Sweeps First-Place Fairfield

The Canisius College volleyball team continued to be perfect in conference home matches with a 3-0 victory over first-place Fairfield University on Saturday afternoon in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Golden Griffins won 25-18, 25-21, 25-20 to improve to 15-8 overall and 10-4 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action.

Senior Morgan Ammons and sophomore Renee Lettow led the Golden Griffins with nine kills apiece on the afternoon as five Canisius players had five kills or more in the match. Freshman Janelle Davis had 26 assists while Lettow and Sarah Podlesh each had 10 digs for Canisius. Brittany Gerde led the Canisius frontline with four blocks while Michelle Godfrey and Layne Adams each had three blocks.

“I'm proud of the way our team worked this week and was rewarded with a great victory,” Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. “We rebounded from two losses last weekend and stayed focused and motivated to get a win.

“We continue to show that we can play with any team in the conference and need to carry over this momentum to Sunday's match.”

Canisius jumped on Fairfield in the first set by building an 11-3 lead, which included two consecutive kills from Ammons. The Stags would eventually get as close as two at 19-17 on a kill by Haililani Popkipala. Canisius came back with a three-point run and would win the set on a kill by Ammons.

The teams played a tight second set with Canisius breaking it open with a five-point run after the game was tied at 17-17, taking advantage of four Fairfield errors. Once again, the Griffs would close out the set on a kill by Ammons.

Fairfield (15-11, 11-2) took the early command of the third set, winning the opening six points. Canisius came back with a 12-4 run that included three service aces. Fairfield would tie it at 12-12, but could never retake the lead as Canisius took the set to win the match.

Pokipala led the Stags with 10 kills, and also had 10 digs while Katie Urbaniak led all players with 12 digs in the match.

Canisius wraps up it weekend homestand on Sunday afternoon, when the Golden Griffins host Saint Peter's. Match time is set for 2 p.m.

Match Notes: Ammons returned to the lineup after missing the previous three matches... Canisius defeated Fairfield for the first time since Oct. 22, 2005, and for the first time in three sets since Oct. 28, 1995... Canisius is now 7-0 at home in MAAC matches... Godfrey and Adams combined for 13 kills and just three errors on 26 attacks for a combined attack percentage of .385... Danielle Brawn started for the fourth consecutive match... Podlesh moved into sixth on the Canisius all-time list with 1,023 career digs... Canisius has double-digit MAAC victories for the third consecutive season... The win over Fairfield gives Canisius a victory over every team in the MAAC this season.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Layne Adams: MH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#1 Danielle Brawn: OH/RS; 5' 9"; Freshman

#5 Janelle Davis: S; 5' 9"; Freshman

#12 Brittany Gerde: S/OH; 6' 0"; Senior

#9 Michelle Godfrey: MH/RS; 6' 3"; Junior

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

#3 Sarah Podlesh: DS; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Layne Adams
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MH

#1 Danielle Brawn
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: OH/RS

#5 Janelle Davis
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: S

#12 Brittany Gerde
: 6' 0"; Senior
: S/OH

#9 Michelle Godfrey
: 6' 3"; Junior
: MH/RS

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

#3 Sarah Podlesh
: 5' 7"; Senior
: DS