Volleyball Continues Conference Action at Iona and Manhattan

MATCH #14
Canisius (4-9, 1-0 MAAC) at Iona (1-11, 1-1 MAAC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 28
Time: 1 p.m.
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
Live Video: Iona Insider
Location: Monroe Athletic Complex – New Roc City (New Rochelle, N.Y.)

MATCH #15
Canisius at Manhattan (2-10, 0-2 MAAC)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 29
Time: 1 p.m.
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
Live Video: Jasper Sports Network
Location: Draddy Gymnasium (Riverdale, N.Y.)

The Canisius volleyball team will look to pick up two more MAAC wins on the road this weekend, as the Golden Griffins head to the New York City area for matchups with Iona and Manhattan. The Griffs take on the defending MAAC champion Gaels in a rematch of last year's conference championship on Saturday, before facing the Jaspers in a Sunday matinee contest.

Scouting Canisius
• The Blue and Gold come off a 3-1 victory over rival Niagara that saw both teams open MAAC play on Tuesday. Senior Leah Simmons led the way with 17 kills, also being one of three Griffs to record a double-double in the match with 11 digs. Simmons now enters the weekend with 146 kills in 2019 off a .276 hitting percentage that ranks fifth in the MAAC.
• Fellow senior Cassidy Ceriani used 40 assists and 14 digs towards her 44th career double-double, while sophomore Hannah Nelson posted 11 kills and 11 digs for the third of her career.
• Freshman libero Bree Long tallied 15 digs against the Purple Eagles to surpass the 200-dig mark for her rookie campaign. Long sits at 206 total digs with a 4.12 digs per set that ranks third in the conference.
• Ceriani is now 95 career digs shy from tying Jennifer Hall at 1005 digs for 10th all-time and eight career aces away from matching Hall and Lauren Lackovich's 105 aces for 10th.
• Over their last three matches, the Griffs have a .284 hitting percentage and 152 kills.
• As a team, Canisius leads the MAAC with a .192 hitting percentage and 15.88 digs per set.

Scouting the Opponents
• Iona picked up their first win of the season last Sunday at Saint Peter's, taking down the Peacocks in consecutive sets and ending an 11-match slide to start the campaign.
• Jamie Smith is the top returning Gael, leading the way with 108 kills while also racking up 67 assists and 64 digs. Smith's 3.56 points per set places her third in the conference.
• Cassandra Patsos follows Smith with 81 kills, with Maile Powell being the leader in assists at 172. Jessica Paolucci is pacing the Gaels with 134 digs and Karla Johnson leads the way with 34 total blocks.
• On Sunday, Manhattan will be on the fifth match of a six-contest homestead that has included a pair of four-set losses to MAAC foes Saint Peter's and Rider. The Jaspers picked up both their wins at the Crosstown Tournament, sweeping Delaware State and beating Lafayette.
• Erin Hoener tops the Jaspers with 103 kills with Julia Menocal right behind her at 98. Abby Wilde has controlled the offense with 345 assists while Nashally Eleutiza's 184 digs gives the fifth-best digs per set in the conference (4.00).
• Lizzi Brown ranks second in the conference with 0.46 aces per set, recording 18 service aces through Manhattan's first 12 contests. Brown also has 79 kills and 80 digs on the season.

Series History
• In the all-time series between Canisius and Iona, the Gaels hold a 27-18 edge over the Griffs after taking both regular season meetings and the MAAC Championship match from the Griffs last season.
• Simmons notched 29 kills and seven total blocks against the Gaels over three matches last season, while now-sophomore Melina Woods had 27 kills in those contests.
• The last Canisius win over Iona was a five-set victory on Oct. 29, 2017. Ceriani racked up 51 assists for the Griffs while Smith posted 15 kills and 21 assists on Iona's side.
• Canisius holds the 29-17 advantage over Manhattan in 46 meetings, including a current four-match winning streak against the Jaspers.
• Simmons registered 20 kills in the Sept. 30 win over Manhattan last year, adding on five more in the teams' other meeting. Woods posted 19 kills over the two matches and now-sophomore Camila Vazquez had 18 kills combined versus the Jaspers.

Up Next
The Golden Griffins return to the friendly confines of the Koessler Athletic Center for their home-opening weekend, taking on Saint Peter's on Oct. 5 and Rider on Oct. 6. Both matches are set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.

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

#1 Melina Woods: RS; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#4 Bree Long: L; 5' 5"; 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

#1 Melina Woods
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: RS

#4 Bree Long
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: L