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Canisius University Athletics

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Bree Long digs a ball vs. Iona on Oct. 27, 2019
Dean Bogart
1
Canisius CAN 11-13, 8-4 MAAC
3
Winner Rider RID 12-13, 9-4 MAAC
Canisius CAN
11-13, 8-4 MAAC
1
Final
3
Rider RID
12-13, 9-4 MAAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Canisius CAN 25 28 15 19 (1)
Rider RID 27 26 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Falters in Four-Set Loss to Rider

In its second-to-last road match of the regular season, the Canisius volleyball team lost to Rider in four sets Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, N.J. The Golden Griffins dropped the contest by scores of 25-27, 28-26, 15-25, 19-25.
 
With the loss, the Griffs fell to 11-13 overall and 8-4 in MAAC play, while the Broncs improved to 12-13 in 2019 and 9-4 in league action.
 
Senior Leah Simmons led the Canisius attack with 11 kills in addition to three block assists, while sophomore Camila Vazquez followed behind with 10 kills at a .400 hitting percentage on top of a team-high five block assists. Falling just short of a double-double, sophomore Hannah Nelson finished with nine kills and 16 digs. Senior Cassidy Ceriani was able to record a double-double, notching 38 assists and 15 digs in the loss, and freshman libero Bree Long registered a team-best 17 digs on her 18th birthday.
 
For Rider, Morgan Romano tallied 25 kills and 16 digs while Anilee Sher posted 59 assists and 21 digs, as both Broncs recorded double-doubles. Rachelle Runyon added 30 digs from the libero position.
 
Canisius held the lead for much of the early going in the first set, but Rider put together a 5-1 run that gave them their first lead of the match. The opening frame would need extra points to decide it, but seven kills from Romano gave the Broncs a 27-25 win.
 
The second set saw the script reversed, as Rider took an early 8-4 lead before a 9-3 Canisius run gave the Griffs the lead at 13-11. The two teams would keep it close the rest of the stanza, but the Blue and Gold proved victorious in extra points at 28-26.
 
Rider was able to hold off Canisius for most of the third set after the score was tight to begin, as the Broncs closed on a 6-0 surge to take the frame, 25-15. In the fourth set, the Griffs brought the frame even at 15-15, but Rider managed to immediately rip off three-straight points in what eventually became a 10-4 run to end the set and the match.  
 
Head Coach Lenika Vazquez's Postgame Comments
"Defense wins. Rider out-defended us today. Camila performed very well today, she showed up in transition and created opportunities for herself offensively. It was great to see her drive. Bree led team in digs, which was a nice birthday treat for her as she turns 18."
 
Game Notes
• Saturday marked the 40th all-time meeting between the two schools, as the Rider victory ended a run of four-straight wins for the Griffs over the Broncs and cut the series lead to 29-11 in favor of Canisius.
• The double-double was the 52nd of Ceriani's career.
• This was just the second match of the season for Vazquez with double-digit kills and is the 10th time she has done so in her career.
• Nelson was now recorded 15-plus digs in back-to-back matches.
 
Up Next
Canisius will close out the weekend with its last road match of the regular season on Sunday when the Griffs play at Saint Peter's. Match time is set for 1 p.m.
 
Follow the Griffs
For complete coverage of Canisius volleyball, please follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffVolleyball (Twitter and Instagram).
 
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