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Volleyball Celebration at Niagara 2019
Marshal Filipowicz
3
Winner Canisius CAN 4-9, 1-0 MAAC
1
Niagara NIA 1-10, 0-1 MAAC
Winner
Canisius CAN
4-9, 1-0 MAAC
3
Final
1
Niagara NIA
1-10, 0-1 MAAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Canisius CAN 25 25 20 25 (3)
Niagara NIA 19 18 25 23 (1)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Sinks Niagara, 3-1, in Conference Opener

With three players posting double-doubles, the Canisius volleyball team was able to clinch the MAAC-opening victory over Niagara Tuesday evening at Gallagher Center in Lewiston, N.Y. The Golden Griffins grabbed the first two sets in this Battle of the Bridge, while the Purple Eagles took the third set and gave the Griffs a tough fourth set before Canisius won the match, 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 25-23).

Canisius now moves to 4-9 overall this season and improves to 1-0 in conference play. Niagara drops to 1-10 in 2019 with a 0-1 league record. The Blue and Gold outhit their foes from up north .268 to .195.

Leading the Griffs to victory were seniors Leah Simmons and Cassidy Ceriani, as both players recorded double-doubles along with sophomore Hannah Nelson. Simmons had a match-high 17 kills to go with 11 digs, and Ceriani controlled the Canisius offense with 40 assists on top of 14 digs, six kills and an ace. Nelson contributed 11 kills and 11 digs to the winning cause, while fellow sophomore Camila Vazquez and freshman Ella Loussia both tallied eight kills. Loussia also led the squad with three block assists and fellow freshman Bree Long notched 15 digs at libero.

The Purple Eagles had Grace Hetterscheidt pace the team with 16 kills, as Hetterscheidt was helped by Jaycie Roberts recording 12 kills and a match-best 19 digs. Jessica Streuer posted 38 assists in the loss, while Emillie Wright and Mary Redl-Harge registered 16 digs and 10 digs, respectively.

The opening set saw the two rivals go back and forth until the Griffs used a 5-0 run to take a 13-8 advantage that they never surrendered, as Canisius earned the 25-19 win off the back of six kills from Simmons. The Blue and Gold was able to force Niagara to use both timeouts in the beginning stages of the second frame, but the Purple Eagles were able to rally to a 16-16 draw. The Griffs were not fazed, as a 7-0 surge by Canisius opened a 23-16 lead that they maintained on the way to winning the second set, 25-18.

In the third set, Canisius held the edge until Niagara ripped off a 7-1 run that gave the home team at 12-10 lead. With another 7-1 streak later in the stanza, the Purple Eagles closed out the set, 25-20. The fourth set went right to the end with neither team pulling out a significant run, as Niagara was able to even the frame at 21-21. Despite this late Purple Eagle push, the Griffs edged out Niagara by a narrow 25-23 score.
 
Head Coach Lenika Vazquez's Postgame Comments
"Any win feels good. As soon as we step out on the court, no matter who's on the other side, we're working to get that dub."

Game Notes
• Tuesday was the 102nd meeting between the Western New York rivals, as Canisius improves to 52-48-2 all-time over Niagara.
• Canisius has now won four-straight against the Purple Eagles, dating back to 2017.
• This was the first time the Griffs opened MAAC play with a win since 2015 and first time opening their conference slate with a road win since 2013.
• Ceriani now has 44 double-doubles in her Canisius career, while Simmons and Nelson both recorded their third career double-doubles.
• Simmons' 17 kills were her 13th career match with 15-plus kills.
• Long has recorded 15-or-more digs in seven contests during her rookie season.
• This is the earliest the Griffs and Purple Eagles have played each other since another Sept. 24 meeting in 2011, where Niagara defeated Canisius in four sets at home.

Up Next
The Golden Griffins continue their MAAC slate on the road, heading this weekend to the New York City area to face Iona and Manhattan. The Griffs and Gaels meet on Sept. 28 for the first time since the 2018 MAAC Championship match, while the Jaspers host Canisius on Sept. 29. Both matches are set for a 1 p.m. start.
 
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