Volleyball Returns Home to Host Manhattan and Iona

MATCH #22
Manhattan (6-17, 3-7 MAAC) at Canisius (9-12, 6-3 MAAC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
Time: 1 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN3

MATCH #23
Iona (3-17, 3-7 MAAC) at Canisius
Date: Sunday, Oct. 27
Time: 1 p.m.
Live Video: ESPN+

Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
Location: Koessler Athletic Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)

The Canisius volleyball team will look to end a three-match losing streak as it returns to the Koessler Athletic Center for the first time in three weeks, taking on MAAC opponents Manhattan and Iona. The Golden Griffins will open with the Jaspers on Saturday, following that with a Sunday showdown against the Gaels.

Scouting Canisius
• After opening conference action with six-straight victories, the Blue and Gold have hit a rough patch of late with losses to Siena, Quinnipiac and Fairfield. Last weekend saw the Griffs grab the first set from the Bobcats before dropping the next three frames, as the team then lost to Fairfield the following day in straight sets.
• Freshman Ella Loussia was the Griffs' main offensive threat during the road trip to Connecticut, tallying 15 kills at a .200 hitting percentage on top of 11 digs and two blocks. The rookie put down nine kills against the Bobcats and tacked on six more in the tilt with the Stags.
• With 20 digs in the meeting at Quinnipiac, senior Cassidy Ceriani became only the 12th Griff to surpass 1,000 career digs and is the first player in Canisius history to record both 3,000 career assists and 1,000 career digs.
• Sophomore Hannah Nelson has been a dominant presence from the service line, ranking fourth in the conference with 0.43 aces per set, while her 32 total aces are second-best in the MAAC.
• Senior Leah Simmons currently has 214 career block assists, with her next block assist giving her sole possession of tenth all-time in program history. Simmons is tied with former teammate Jacklyn Malusa entering Saturday's match.
• In conference play, sophomore Camila Vazquez leads the MAAC with 1.30 blocks per set, tallying 35 of her 40 blocks since the Griffs' league opener.

Scouting the Opponents
• Manhattan earned a split last weekend, sweeping Siena and losing to Marist in four sets to move to 3-7 in the league standings. Most recently on Wednesday, the Jaspers picked up a win in consecutive sets over NJIT in their final non-conference match of the season.
• Julia Menocal and Erin Hoener been the leaders for the Manhattan attack, notching 194 and 182 kills, respectively. Hoener has also contributed extensively to the Jaspers' blocking, registering a MAAC-best 82 total blocks (her 0.96 blocks per set is third in the conference). Vivian Donovan has been the best server for Manhattan with 26 aces, ranking third in the league at 0.46 aces per set. Abby Wilde and Julieanna McKee both have over 300 assists, while libero Nashally Eleutiza has posted 348 digs.
• Iona is coming off a three-match homestead at the newly-reopened Hynes Center, falling in four sets to both Rider and Marist before coming out victorious with a 3-1 win over Siena thanks to a triple-double from Jamie Smith.
• Smith tops the Gaels with 189 kills and 25 service aces, while the other two primary hitters for Iona have been Karla Johnson (153 kills) and Cassandra Patsos (149 kills). Smith is fourth in the MAAC at 3.56 points per set and Johnson ranks fourth with a .306 hitting percentage. Sharing the setter role, Maile Powell and Samantha Juran have 246 and 207 assists, respectively. The libero position has been held down by Jessica Paolucci, as the redshirt-senior has notched a team-best 259 digs along to go with 22 aces.

Series History
• Canisius holds a 30-17 edge with Manhattan in the all-time series, picking up five-straight wins over the Jaspers in the last five meetings.
• The Blue and Gold took the first matchup this season in Riverdale, as Nelson's double-double (15 kills, 13 digs) and Simmons' 14 kills powered the Griffs to a sweep over the Jaspers.
• Through 46 meetings, Iona has the advantage over Canisius at 27-19 with the two teams splitting the last eight contests.
• In the first contest between the Griffs and Gaels this season, Simmons pounded down 16 kills and added three aces as Canisius took down their host for a 3-1 victory in New Rochelle.

Up Next
The Golden Griffins will take their final road trip of the regular season next weekend, heading to New Jersey for a pair of MAAC contests. The Griffs travel to Rider on Saturday, Nov. 2, for a noon start, then head to Saint Peter's for a 1 p.m. opening serve on Sunday, Nov. 3.

Follow the Griffs
For complete coverage of Canisius volleyball, please follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffVolleyball (Instagram) and @GriffVolleyball (Twitter).

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Players Mentioned

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

#14 Hannah Nelson: OH; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#13 Leah Simmons: MH; 6' 1"; Senior

#8 Camila Vazquez: MH; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#2 Ella Loussia: OH; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#14 Hannah Nelson
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH

#13 Leah Simmons
: 6' 1"; Senior
: MH

#8 Camila Vazquez
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MH

#2 Ella Loussia
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OH