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Canisius University Athletics

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Claire Leonard
Marshall Haim
Freshman Claire Leonard
3
Winner Canisius CAN 1-2
0
Hampton HAM 0-3
Winner
Canisius CAN
1-2
3
Final
0
Hampton HAM
0-3
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Canisius CAN 25 25 25 (3)
Hampton HAM 16 17 21 (0)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Bests Hampton; Leonard Earns All-Tournament Honors

MATCH RECAP:
Canisius volleyball earned its first victory of the season on Saturday, as the squad bested Hampton in straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-21) to improve to 1-2. Samantha Zebuth led the Blue and Gold with 10 kills and a .562 hitting percentage.

In the first set, the Griffs jockeyed for the lead early with the Pirates but, leading 12-11, went on a extended 13-5 run to end the first set strong, with a 25-16 victory.
 
In the second frame, the Griffs led for much of the match but started to pull away, up four, 12-8, and the squad finished out the frame on a 13-9 run to claim a 2-0 match lead before the intermission.
 
It appeared the Blue and Gold had a stranglehold on the third frame, holding a 23-15 lead over Hampton, however the Pirates clawed back into the match, scoring four-straight points to make it 23-19. Sara Wesley slammed a kill down to make it 24-19, but again Hampton answered with a pair of point of its own. Claire Leonard finished the game off the very next point, finding space in the Hampton defense and notching her sixth kill of the match to close the door on the comeback, 25-21.
 
The offense a good variety, as Wesley had eight kills, and Andrea Diaz Lopez tallied seven to round out the team leaders. Cassidy Ceriani did a little bit of everything from the setter position, posting 28 assists, three kills and six digs. Junior Sofia Lopez Acosta led the way with 13 digs.

Leonard's strong weekend was noticed by the tournament coaching staffs as she was honored as a member of the Buffalo Invitational All-Tournament team. Leonard finished the three matches averaging 2.45 kills per set and posted an attack percentage of .185. 
 
THOUGHTS FROM COACH VAZQUEZ:
"I thought the tournament was very competitive and a great opportunity to see our strengths and weaknesses both offensively and defensively," said head coach Lenika Vazquez. "Practice this upcoming week will be a fun time. We tried a lot of different things, we had three solid different lineups which is always the best problem to have."
 
GAME NOTES:
• With the win Canisius improves 2-0 all-time against Hampton.
• Claire Leonard was named to the Buffalo Invitational All-Tournament team.
• Leonard in her first collegiate tournament averaged 2.45 kills per set and posted an attack percentage of .185.
• Team leader, Samantha Zebuth set a new career-high in kills with 10, besting her previous high of six set back in 2015, as well as setting a new career-best hitting percentage of .562.
• Cassidy Ceriani's five service aces is a new career-best for the sophomore setter.
 
UP NEXT:
Canisius will now prepare for its second non-conference tournament of the season next weekend, as the team heads to the Duquesne Invitational. The Blue and Gold are slated to play Coppin State and Robert Morris at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sept. 1. Followed by Duquesne and Northern Kentucky at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m on Saturday Sept. 2.
 
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