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Hannah Nelson and Cassidy Ceriani celebrating vs. Rider
Dean Bogart
3
Winner Canisius CAN 9-9, 6-0 MAAC
2
Marist MAR 6-11, 4-3 MAAC
Winner
Canisius CAN
9-9, 6-0 MAAC
3
Final
2
Marist MAR
6-11, 4-3 MAAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Canisius CAN 19 25 25 20 15 (3)
Marist MAR 25 20 19 25 12 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Outlasts Marist to Stay Perfect in the MAAC

Once again led by a career day from sophomore Hannah Nelson, the Canisius volleyball team remained undefeated in MAAC play after the Golden Griffins knocked off Marist by set scores of 19-25, 25-20, 25-19, 20-25, 15-12 in McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Saturday's win at Marist stands as the team's first road victory over the Red Foxes since 2012.
 
The win improved the Griffs to 9-9 on the season and pulled the squad's overall record to .500 or better for the first time since Sept. 6. The league win also moved the Blue and Gold to 6-0 in conference action, which ties the 2012 team for the best start in MAAC play in program history. With the loss, Marist dropped to 6-11 overall and 4-3 in the MAAC standings.
 
At the forefront for Canisius was Nelson with 12 kills and a career-best 24 digs, as the outside hitter also recorded four aces to go with her sixth double-double this season. Senior Gabrielle Darnaby also recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs, while fellow senior Leah Simmons matched Nelson with 12 kills and put down the team's lone solo block. Sophomore Camila Vazquez also set a career high, registering nine block assists to go with three kills. Senior Cassidy Ceriani was brilliant once again all over the floor, posting 46 assists on top of eight digs, five kills, two aces and a career-high six block assists. Freshmen Bree Long and Ella Loussia both contributed heavily to the win as well, as Long notched 24 digs and two aces and Loussia chipped in 11 kills and four block assists.
 
Marist was led by Megan Fergus and Madelyn Waumans, totaling 19 and 18 kills, respectively. Sarah Austin tacked on 15 kills of her own to go with 19 digs for a double-double, while Halle Carter tallied 40 assists. Libero Sophia Theriot had a career-high 38 digs, also recording two aces and eight assists for the Red Foxes.
 
Opening the match with three-straight points, Marist was then able to negate a Canisius rally by ripping off a 5-0 run that gave the Red Foxes a 14-10 lead. The home team was able to hold that edge the rest of the set for a 25-19 win despite Nelson tallying four kills for the Griffs.
 
Second set went much better for the Blue and Gold, as the Griffs used six blocks, including four block assists from Vazquez, to grab the lead early and never look back on the way to a 25-20 victory in the frame.
 
Canisius kept up the pressure in the third set, using an early 11-1 run to take the commanding 12-4 lead. Racking up seven services aces in the frame alone, Canisius weathered a late push by Marist to take the set, 25-19.
 
The fourth set was a back-and-forth affair, as Canisius tied the stanza at 13-13 but Marist then rattled off a 7-2 surge to regain the lead and hold on to a 25-20 win that forced the fifth set.
 
In the fifth set, Vazquez was the one to give the Griffs the lead, as the sophomore connected on a kill that broke a 3-3 tie. Canisius never surrendered that lead, edging out Marist in the final set, 15-12, and keeping its MAAC win streak alive.
 
Head Coach Lenika Vazquez's Postgame Comments
"It was a team effort. It was a decision that they made to say 'Hey, even if we break down in some areas, we are going to get this win'".
 
"When you play against a team like Marist, there are a lot of athletes on that team. There are some high-flyers and some very competitive and smart players, so we decided to slow our block down a little bit and it helped us out a lot in the second set (with six total blocks in the set).

"We work very hard in the gym on our serving, and I think that the things we do in practice show up on match-days (with seven aces in the third set)."
 
Game Notes
• The win on Saturday improves Canisius' all-time record against Marist to 21-18.
• The Griffs have now earned back-to-back victories over the Red Foxes in five sets, previously beating Marist in the Koessler Athletic Center on Oct. 21, 2018 in a contest that went the distance.
• The last Canisius win in Poughkeepsie was a 3-1 victory on Sept 15, 2012, as the Griffs were powered by 19 kills from Jessica Warner that day.
• 2012 was also the last time Canisius posted two-straight victories over the Red Foxes, beating Marist by a 3-1 score at home later that season on Oct. 21.
• The current six-match winning streak is only the fourth in program history, and is one victory shy of the program-record seven-match winning streak accomplished in 2012. The 2012 team completed a 3-0 sweep of Hartford to end non-conference play that season before getting the six-straight wins to open MAAC play.
• Ceriani's two aces moved her into sole possession of tenth in program history at 103 career service aces, passing Brittany Gerde's 102 aces.
• Nelson's double-double was the seventh of her career, while Daranby now has four double-doubles in her time on Main Street.
• Nelson now has multiple aces in four-straight contests.
• The 23 block assists and 12.5 total blocks by Canisius are season highs in each category.
• The Griffs now have 10-or-more aces in three matches this season.
 
Up Next
The Golden Griffins continue their road swing Sunday at Siena. First serve is set for 1 p.m. from the Alumni Recreation Center.
 
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For complete coverage of Canisius volleyball, please follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffVolleyball (Twitter and Instagram).
 
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