Volleyball Opens MAAC Play with Sweep of Iona

In front of an enthusiastic Koessler Athletic Center crowd, the Canisius College volleyball team started the 2009 MAAC schedule with a sweep of Iona on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Griffins (4-7, 1-0 MAAC) swept the Gaels 25-19, 25-22, 25-12.

Four Golden Griffins had at least eight kills in the match with sophomore Danielle Brawn and freshman Samantha Good leading the team with nine kills apiece. Junior Renee Lettow had eight kills while sophomore setter Janelle Davis had a career-high eight kills on nine attack attempts to go along with 31 assists. Freshman Allyson Severyn had 22 digs while senior Michelle Godfrey had five blocks.

“It was great to play in an exciting atmosphere on our home court today. We followed and executed a lot of our game plan,” Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. “It's only one match, but it's a good start to conference play.”

The closest set of the day came in the first set, featuring 10 ties and four lead changes. The Griffs jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead but Iona responded by winning six of the next seven points to go up 7-5. No team would take more than a two-point lead until late in the set. With the Griffs ahead 20-19, Canisius closed out the set with five consecutive kills — one from Lettow, three straight from Good and one from Davis.

The Griffs jumped out to a seven-point lead in the second set, going up 16-9 on one of five kills on the day from Godfrey. Out of a timeout, the Gaels responded with six consecutive points before a kill from Layne Adams ended the run. Iona tied the match at 19-19, but the Griffs five of the next six points and won the set on a kill from Lettow.

Canisius never looked back in the third set, breaking it open early with a 6-1 run, which included two kills from Davis. Brawn had five kills in the third set, including the final kill to win the match.

Canisius returns to the court on Sunday, to host Fairfield. Match time in the Koesslser Athletic Center is set for 2 p.m.

Match Notes: Canisius has now won 11 straight conference matches in the Koessler Athletic Center… Canisius won its first MAAC match for the third consecutive year and its first home MAAC match for the fifth straight year… Canisius has won four straight at home against Iona… Brawn played in her first match since the season-opener and has 20 kills in those two matches… Good had nine or more kills for the fifth time in the last eight matches… Severyn had zero service reception errors for the third time this season.

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Players Mentioned

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

#7 Danielle Brawn: OH/RS; 5' 9"; Sophomore

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

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

#16 Samantha Good: MH/RS; 5' 10"; Freshman

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

#18 Allyson Severyn: L; 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#7 Danielle Brawn
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: OH/RS

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

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

#16 Samantha Good
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: MH/RS

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

#18 Allyson Severyn
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: L