Volleyball Kicks-Off MAAC Schedule at Rider and Saint Peter’s

OPENING SERVE
The Canisius volleyball team opens up its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference slate this weekend, as the squad heads to New Jersey to take on Rider and Saint Peter's on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Both matches will be streamed online, with the match against the Broncs broadcast through MAAC.TV, and the Saint Peter's match shown on Youtube.

NOTING THE GRIFFS
• Canisius hosted its first home tournament since 2013 last weekend, as it fell in three matches to Bucknell (3-0), Charlotte (3-0) and Eastern Washington (3-2).
• Despite the three losses, Claire Leonard continued her strong play as a freshman, leading the team with 3.09 kills per set and 2.09 digs per frame, as she was named to the Canisius Invitational All-Tournament Team.
• Leonard is currently ranked third in the conference with 3.03 kills per set, and is the highest rated rookie in the league in that category.
• Leonard has hit double-figures in total kills in six of eight matches so far this season.
• The Blue and Gold have wins in three set and four set matches but have been shutout the of the win column when going five frames. The latest loss came against Eastern Washington when the Griffs battled back from an 0-2 deficit to force a decisive set but ultimatly lost to the Eagles. Canisius is 0-2 in five set matches.
• Behind Leonard on the Griffs' leaderboard is Sara Wesley and Leah Simmons who have averaged 2.14 and 2.12 kills per set, respectively.
• Sofia Lopez Acosta finds herself ranked fifth in the league in digs per set, sportin g a 4.17 digs per frame average through 36 sets.
• Meanwhile Cassidy Ceriani is ranked third in the MAAC in assists per set with a mark of 8.19.

SERIES HISTORY VS. OPPONENTS
• The Griffs are 25-8 all-time against Rider in the series history and are 5-5 in the last 10.
• The Broncs swept the series last season, defeating the Griffs 3-0 at the Koessler Athletic Center and 3-1 later in the year in Lawrenceville, N.J.
• Against Saint Peter's, the Griffs are 31-12 overall, and 14-1 in the last 15 contests.
• Canisius is currently on a string of 14-straight victories against the Peacocks, dating back to Oct. 2, 2010.

UP NEXT
Following its New Jersey swing, the Griffs head back to Buffalo for an extended home stand, hosting Siena and Marist on Sept. 23 and 24, and Fairfield and Quinnipiac on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. All match times are set for 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Cassidy Ceriani: S; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#13 Leah Simmons: MB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#15 Sara Wesley: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#1 Claire Leonard: OH/MB; 6' 0"; Freshman

#2 Sofia Lopez Acosta: L; 5' 7"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#3 Cassidy Ceriani
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: S

#13 Leah Simmons
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: MB

#15 Sara Wesley
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#1 Claire Leonard
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH/MB

#2 Sofia Lopez Acosta
: 5' 7"; Junior
: L