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Canisius University Athletics

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Hannah Nelson Celebration vs. Rider
Dean Bogart
2
Rider RID 6-12, 3-3 MAAC
3
Winner Canisius CAN 8-9, 5-0 MAAC
Rider RID
6-12, 3-3 MAAC
2
Final
3
Canisius CAN
8-9, 5-0 MAAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Rider RID 17 25 25 21 10 (2)
Canisius CAN 25 23 15 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Nelson, Volleyball Battle Back for Five-Set Win Over Rider

Canisius sophomore Hannah Nelson pounded down a career-high 22 kills to help the host Golden Griffins overcome a 2-1 deficit in the match, as the Blue and Gold battled back to defeat Rider, 3-2, Sunday afternoon in MAAC volleyball action in the Koessler Athletic Center.
 
Canisius, which improved to 8-9 overall and 5-0 in MAAC play with the victory, won the match by scores of 25-17, 23-25, 15-25, 25-21, 15-10. Rider fell to 6-12 overall and 3-3 in league action with the five-set loss. The 5-0 start to league play for the Griffs is the program's best since 2012.
 
Nelson's 22 kills came on 57 swings, and she also added 10 digs, three service aces and a block assist to her final stat line. Senior Leah Simmons posted 16 kills in the win for Canisius, while freshman Ella Loussia added seven kills, including the final kill of the match in the fifth set to score the win for the home team. Senior setter Cassidy Ceriani directed the Canisius offense with 43 assists to go with four service aces, while freshman libero Bree Long recorded 26 digs. As a team, Canisius hit .250, while holding the visiting Broncs to a .233 hitting percentage on the power of 10 block assists on the afternoon.
 
For Rider, Morgan Romano led the match with 24 kills on top of five block assists, while Anilee Sher tallied 51 assists and Rachelle Runyon registered 27 digs. Sher also led the Broncs with three aces and Morgan Koch had six block assists.
 
Canisius jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the match after the Griffs scored the 25-17 win in the opening set. In that frame, Simmons was good for a team-high five kills while Nelson and Ceriani each posted a pair of service aces. Rider evened the match at 1-1 after the Broncs outscored the Griffs  with a 6-3 stretch in the closing moments of the second set. Out of the match's five-minute intermission, Rider grabbed a 2-1 lead in the match as the Broncs took advantage of Canisius hitting just .051 in the third set.
 
Canisius began its comeback in the fourth set, posting a 25-21 victory in the frame. In the fourth set, Nelson was credited with five kills, and the Cary, N.C., native teamed up with Loussia for a block that sealed the four-point victory for the Blue and Gold. In the fifth set, Canisius jumped out to an early 5-1 lead on the power of Nelson's 19th kill of the day, and the home team never looked back, scoring the 15-10 victory. The five-set win for the Griffs, their third of the season in five chances, improved the team to 3-2 in five-set MAAC matches, dating back to the 2016 campaign.
 
Head Coach Lenika Vaquez's Postgame Comments
"Mentally and emotionally, the win proved and shows them that they are capable. It's not a fluke that with all the hard work and preparation they put in throughout the week, when they execute it on the weekends, they'll get the results they want. It's very nice for them to come back with that fire and that's important to see."
 
Game Notes
• Canisius now leads the all-time series with Rider by a 29-10 count.
• The Griffs have defeated Rider in four-straight matches, dating back to last year.
• This is the second-straight season where the Griffs have started 2-0 at home.
• Ceriani's four aces gives her 101 in her career, one shy of tying Brittany Gerde for 10th in program history.
• Nelson's double-double was the sixth of her career while Ceriani's was her 47th career double-double.
• Simmons has now posted 10-plus kills in 36 career matches.
• Long has notched six contests this season with 20-or-more digs.
 
Up Next
Canisius returns to the road for a pair of MAAC matches next weekend, starting at Marist on Oct. 12. The Griffs will also play at Siena next weekend, and both matches are set to start at 1 p.m.
 
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For complete coverage of Canisius volleyball, please follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffVolleyball (Instagram and Twitter).
 
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