The Canisius volleyball team lost its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener, falling in three sets at Marist College on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Griffins lost 22-25, 21-25, 23-25 to the Red Foxes in the McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Junior Rachel Kline had 10 kills and nine digs while sophomore Katlyn Tyler also had 10 kills in the match. Junior Grace Streicher added 27 assists, and senior libero Emily Litwin posted 17 digs.

Canisius recorded seven team blocks, led by four blocks from sophomore Jacklyn Malusa and three blocks apiece junior Lauren Siebert and Streicher. Siebert also had seven kills on 11 attack attempts.

“We played tough enough to compete with one of the top teams in our league, which is good to see,” Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. “We lost our way from following a game play, which is extremely disappointing. Marist played more mature than us today.”

A tight opening set featured 17 ties and eight lead changes, with neither team holding more than a three-point lead. Marist (9-2, 1-0 MAAC) built a 16-14 lead but a kill from freshman Kristin Bendy and a Marist error knotted the score. A service ace from Litwin put Canisius up 19-18, but Marist scored the next two points and never relinquished the lead as the Red Foxes closed the set on a 4-1 run.

Marist built a quick 4-0 lead in the second set but a 10-3 run, including two kills from Siebert, by the Griffs put Canisius up by three. A kill from Kline made the score 14-11, and after trading side-outs, Marist made its run by scoring six straight points to take control and go up 18-15. The Griffs got within one on three occasions, but Marist never gave up the lead and closed out the set.

The Red Foxes led for the entire third set, going up 17-10 before Canisius made a late push. A 6-1 run, including three kills from Tyler, cut the deficit to 18-16. Marist responded with four straight points to regain control. Canisius fought off three set points, but Marist ended the match on its fourth attempt.

Canisius (0-10, 0-1 MAAC) concludes its season-opening 11-match road stretch at Siena on Sunday, with match time set for 1 p.m.

Notes: Marist has won the last three matches in the series… Canisius last dropped its MAAC opener in 2011…  Malusa has at least three blocks in each of the last three matches… Kline posted double-digit kills for the eighth time in 2014… Tyler is averaging 2.75 kills per set in the last eight matches… Siebert has seven kills in three straight matches and is hitting .372 in that stretch.