LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – After snapping its three-match losing streak against Saint Peter's on Saturday, the Canisius College volleyball team was defeated by the Rider Broncs, 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. With the loss the Blue and Gold drop to 6-15 and 4-5 in MAAC play, while Rider improves to 14-10 and 9-1 in conference play.

“We played well enough to be competitive against the top team in the MAAC,” head coach Cathy Hummel said. “We lost the handle on the gameplan at times and once we found it again, we struggled at other positions, which made it difficult for us to overcome a team like Rider. We are looking forward to being home for the next three matches.”

All four sets were tight between the two squads as Rider won the match with the scores, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 27-25.

The Griffs weren't as efficient in this contest, as they were on Saturday, recording a .199 hitting percentage with 57 kills and 18 errors on 196 total attacks. Rider excelled, as the squad recorded a .263 hitting percentage with 67 kills and just 15 errors on 198 attacks.

Junior outside hitter Katlyn Tyler had a career-day for the Blue and Gold as she recorded her sixth double-double of the year as she recorded 22 kills and 16 digs. She now has six double-doubles in her last eight contests. Her 22 kills in this match, sets a new career-high, besting the 20 she recorded both in 2014 and 2015.

Lauren Siebert also recorded double-figure kills, as the senior notched 13. Sophomore Alexandra Brown recorded a .500 hitting percentage after recording seven kills and just one error on 12 total attacks.

Senior setter Grace Streicher made her way back into the lineup after missing a match due to an injury, as she appeared to not skip a beat, leading the team with 41 assists. This is the fourth time this season, Streicher has had 40-or-more assists in a match.

Freshman Donnett Hickson got the start as libero and recorded 12 digs, however senior Jacklyn Malusa led the team in digs with 27, a new-career high.

After dropping the first set 25-22, the Golden Griffins bounced back with a victory in set two. Canisius opened the frame on a 10-5 run. The Griffs continued the streak as the squad scored 10 of the next 21 points to extend its lead to 20-16. The Blue and Gold staved off a Rider comeback, scoring five of the next 11 points, as an attack error by Kaitlyn Griffin capped the second set win.

In the third frame, the Griffs were edged 25-22, leading to the decisive fourth set. 

In the final stanza Rider opened up with the momentum going on a 15-9 run to start. The lead was pushed out to 20-14 before Canisius made its charge. The Griffs scored six of the next ten points to make it 24-20. The Blue and Gold staved off elimination by scoring four-straight points to knot the matchup at 24-24. A error by Canisius made it 25-24, Rider, but Tyler knotted it off the next serve with a kill. That was as long as the Griffs stayed in the contest however as Griffin notched two-straight kills to end the set 27-25 and the match 3-1.

The Griffs now settle in for a three-match home stretch as the squad welcomes in Iona and Manhattan, next Saturday and Sunday, and hosts rival Niagara on the following Wednesday. The weekend matches begin at 1 p.m. with the rivalry night beginning at 7 p.m.