Five Things to Know: Volleyball Takes on Niagara in MAAC Quarterfinal Action

2021 MAAC Volleyball Championship
Quarterfinal Round Match
Canisius (10-17, 10-8 MAAC) vs. Niagara (13-14, 10-8 MAAC)
Friday, Nov. 19 – 2 p.m.
Location: UHY Center | Loudonville, N.Y.
Video Broadcast: ESPN+ | CLICK HERE
Live Stats: via MAACSports.com | CLICK HERE

Twitter: @GriffVolleyball | #Griffs | #MAACVB | #BeatNiagara Instagram: @GriffVolleyball

1) Opening Serve
The Canisius volleyball team begins its quest for the first MAAC volleyball championship in program history on Friday afternoon when the fourth-seeded Golden Griffins take on long-time rival Niagara in the quarterfinal round of the 2021 MAAC Volleyball Championship at UHY Center in Loudonville, N.Y. Canisius and Niagara finished the regular season with identical 10-8 league records, and the two teams split the regular-season series earlier this month. The Griffs locked up the No. 4 seed in the conference's postseason tournament by holding a tiebreaker over the Purple Eagles.

2) Series Notes
Canisius has played more matches against Niagara (108) than any other opponent in program history. The Griffs lead the all-time series, which dates back to 1975, 55-51-2. Friday's meeting will be the fifth time in series history where these two schools have met in the MAAC Championship, with each school boasting two victories.

3) MAAC Championship Notes
Canisius is making its 16th appearance in the MAAC Volleyball Championship since the school joined the conference prior to the start of the 1989-90 academic year. This year also marks the fourth-straight conference tournament berth for the Blue and Gold, which ties the program record, previously set from 1990-93. In two of the previous three years (2018 and 2020), the Griffs advanced to the conference's championship match.

4) Three Griffs Earn All-MAAC Honors
Senior Camila Vazquez and junior Ella Loussia, along with freshman Kara Zaucha were honored for their play by being named to the 2021 All-MAAC teams. Vazquez and Loussia were selected as All-MAAC Second Team honorees, while Zaucha became the eighth freshman in school history to earn MAAC All-Rookie honors, an honor she shares with both Vazquez (2018) and Loussia (2019).

5) Up Next
With a win over Niagara, Canisius will advance to the semifinal round of the 2021 MAAC Volleyball Championship, where the Griffs will meet either top-seeded Fairfield, or No. 8 seed Siena. That match will be played Saturday at 4 p.m., in Loudonville, N.Y.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Kara Zaucha: OH; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Kara Zaucha
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: OH

Players Mentioned

#2 Ella Loussia

#8 Camila Vazquez

#11 Kara Zaucha

Players Mentioned

#2 Ella Loussia

#8 Camila Vazquez

#11 Kara Zaucha