The Canisius College volleyball team split its two matches on the final day of Willie Jewell's Volleyball Invitational in Charleston, S.C. on Saturday. The Golden Griffins lost to Mercer 18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20 and then defeated USC Upstate 28-26, 25-21, 21-25, 25-18. Canisius is now 2-5 on the season.

Canisius 3, USC Upstate 0

Sophomore Olivia Chrzanowski led Canisius with 12 kills while senior Samantha Good had 11 kills and zero errors on 20 attack attempts en route to earning All-Tournament Team honors. Senior Allyson Severyn had 20 digs while junior Sydney Palka had 38 assists and 10 digs for her second career double-double. Junior Jessica Warner had 14 digs and five blocks.

"We regrouped mentally for the second match of the day and played better within our system," Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. "We started to establish some trust on the court and came out with a win against a good team."

Canisius fought off three set points late in the set and won five of the final six points to steal the opening set. Trailing 19-16, the Griffs tied the score at 20-20 after a USC Upstate service error. The Spartans then won four of the next five points to go up 24-21. Canisius took the next three points, including a solo block from junior Roxanne Hernandez and a service ace from junior Emily Elek, to tie it at 24-24. The Griffs ended up winning the final three points of the set - a kill from Chrzanowski a kill from Hernandez and a triple block from Hernandez, Warner and Palka, to win the first set.

Canisius trailed 15-10 in the second set before winning 15 of the final 21 points to go up 2-0 in the match. The Griffs used a 5-0 run to tie the score at 16-16 and would use a 6-0 run to build a 22-18 lead. During that second stretch, Palka, Elek, Warner and Hernandez each had kills for the Griffs, who won the set on another kill from Elek.

USC Upstate won the third set, holding off a late Canisius rally in the set. The Griffs won the first three points of the fourth set to quickly built a 7-2 lead during a spurt that included two kills from Good. The Spartans cut the Canisius lead to two points at 12-10, but could never get any closer as Canisius never trailed in the fourth set. The Griffs closed out the match by winning the final four points, including kills from Warner and Good.

Mercer 3, Canisius 1

Warner led Canisius with 11 kills to go along with 12 digs, her third double-double in four matches. Good had eight kills and zero errors on 16 attack attempts while Hernandez had nine kills and six blocks. Severyn recorded 20 digs in the libero position.

"We played some incredible volleyball in this match, and some sloppy volleyball as well," Hummel said. "Mercer took advantage of when we took plays off. If we can maintain our effort and mental focus, we look forward to great things."

Canisius took the opening set, jumping out to a quick 9-2 lead capped by two service aces from Good. Mercer climbed back into the set, making it a one-point deficit at 16-15. Canisius then won three straight points to reclaim control of the set and nine of the final 12 points to win the first set, capped by kills from Warner and Good.

In the second set, Canisius held the early lead at 6-4 after a kill from Hernandez. Mercer went on a 9-2 run to build a 13-8 lead as the Griffs could never get closer than three points the rest of the set. In the third set, Mercer was ahead 17-13, but Canisius closed the gap with a 4-1 run and eventually trailed 22-21 after a kill from Hernandez. The Bears won the next two points and would take the set.

Mercer gained control of the fourth set by scoring five straight points early in the set, turning a 7-5 Canisius lead into a 10-7 disadvantage for the Griffs. Canisius could never get closer than two points the rest of the way as Mercer closed out the match.

Canisius concludes its non-conference schedule next weekend at the Art Carmichael Invitational at the University of Rhode Island. Canisius opens play against Seton Hall at 11 a.m. on Friday.