Box Score The Canisius volleyball team ended the season playing its best volleyball of the season, capped with a four-set win over Niagara University in the fifth-place match at the 2014 MAAC Championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on Saturday. The Golden Griffins won 25-9, 16-25, 25-22, 25-19 to finish the 2014 season with a 12-20 record and by winning five of their last seven matches.
Junior Lauren Siebert posted 14 kills and a .323 attack percentage to go along with three blocks. Senior libero Emily Litwin recorded a career-high 37 digs and set the program record with 638 digs in a season. Junior Rachel Kline totaled 11 kills and 15 digs for her 15th double-double of the season.
Sophomore Jacklyn Malusa had nine kills and three blocks while hitting .333. Junior setter Grace Streicher filled out the stat sheet with 34 assists, five kills, four service aces and eight digs.
"Next to be being in the finals this is the next best thing. We showed what we are capable of, and we end the season seeing what we believed in all year,” Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. “Thanks to my seniors for their hard work and the rest of the players for sending them off with a win. I also want to thank my assistant coaches and athletic trainer for their hard work throughout the season.”
Canisius dominated the first set by holding Niagara to a -.091 attack percentage. The Griffs jumped out to a 9-3 lead and never looked back, closing the set on a 14-2 run.
After Niagara (14-18) answered by winning the second set to even the match at one set apiece, the Griffs responded by winning the pivotal third set that featured 13 ties and seven lead changes. Niagara held a 21-20 lead, but Canisius closed the set by winning five of the last six points, including three of Malusa's six kills in the set, to go up 2-1 in the match.
Niagara built an early 8-4 lead in the fourth set before an 8-1 run, including three kills from Siebert, by the Griffs gave the momentum back to Canisius. The Griffs saw their lead cut to 20-19 before Canisius won the final five points of the match to close out their rival.
Canisius will return six of its seven starters to the 2015 team and 12 of 14 letterwinners.
Notes: Kline finished the season with 12 matches with 15 or digs, two more than any other Canisius outside hitter in the last 12 seasons… Streicher matched her career high with the four service aces (Oct. 13, 2012 vs. Fairfield). She had 10 service aces and just one service error in the five MAAC Championship matches… Litwin posted 15 digs in the third set. The senior averaged 6.21 digs per set in the tournament and had a 95.7 service reception percentage… Malusa hit .341 and averaged 0.95 blocks per set in the postseason... Kline finished the season with 382 kills – eighth-most in Canisius history… Siebert finished the season with a .316 attack percentage – ninth-highest in Canisius history… Streicher finished the season fifth in Canisius history with 1,126 assists.
