MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Canisius volleyball team (1-3) wrapped up its four-game weekend with a 3-0 win over former MAAC foe, Loyola (0-3) in a neutral site matchup hosted by Robert Morris on Sunday afternoon. The first win of the season for the Blue and Gold caps a weekend where the squad played four matches in a three-day span.

“We learned a lot about our team this weekend,” head coach Cathy Hummel said. “We played some really good competition and earned our first win.”

Canisius dominated play from the onset, sweeping the three sets, 25-21, 25-14, and 25-17, to earn the victory.

The Griffs bounced back from some offensive efficiency trouble at the Eagle Challenge to finish the contest with a .179 hitting percentage, recording 39 kills and 20 errors in 106 total attacks as a team.

The Greyhounds struggled mightily on the offensive end, recording a hitting percentage of .019 with just 27 kills and 25 errors in 108 attacks.

Rachel Kline and Katlyn Tyler led the way with 13 kills and 10 kills, respectively as Tyler sported a .167 hitting percentage. Grace Streicher and Julia Hrycyk handled the setting duties as the duo posted 17 assists and 14 assists, respectively. Defensively, Kristen Plukas had a strong day with 13 digs, which ties her career-mark, set in a match against Grand Canyon in 2014.

For Loyola, Stacey Kazalas had the most kills with 11 but finished with just a .021 hitting percentage to cap her erratic day. Molly Werts led the team with 19 assists, while Werts and Micah Duzey had nine digs, apiece.

The first frame proved to be the closest for the Golden Griffins, as Loyola kept within striking distance early on.

The Griffs opened on a 10-7 run but the Greyhounds pieced together a 7-5 run to pull to within one of the lead. Following the abbreviated run by the Greyhounds, the Griffs seized control again putting together a 9-1 run to put Canisius one point shy of the set win at 24-15. Momentum swung back to Loyola as the squad fought back to make it 21-25, before a kill by Kline sealed the set.

That was as close as Loyola came as Canisius took the next two sets by a score of 25-14 and 25-17.

The Griffs have a brief break this week before traveling to Akron, Ohio for the Akron invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Blue and Gold will open up with St. Francis (Pa.) on Friday and finish with matches against Navy and Akron on Saturday.