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Canisius University Athletics

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Ashley Kekeisen sets the ball vs. Manhattan on Oct. 26, 2019
Dean Bogart
3
Winner Canisius Canis 4-1,4-1 MAAC
2
Rider Rider 1-4,1-2 MAAC
Winner
Canisius Canis
4-1,4-1 MAAC
3
Final
2
Rider Rider
1-4,1-2 MAAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Canisius Canis 12 25 25 11 16 (3)
Rider Rider 25 23 20 25 14 (2)
0
Canisius Canis 5-2,4-2 MAAC
3
Winner Rider Rider 2-5,2-2 MAAC
Canisius Canis
5-2,4-2 MAAC
0
Final
3
Rider Rider
2-5,2-2 MAAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Canisius Canis 23 18 22 (0)
Rider Rider 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Canisius Splits Doubleheader with Rider

The Canisius volleyball team split its MAAC doubleheader with Rider Friday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, N.J. 
 
The Golden Griffins dropped the first set of the opening match but would win back-to-back sets, 25-23 and 25-20, respectively. Rider would claim fourth set, 25-11, to force a fifth set. The Blue & Gold would win the decisive fifth set, 16-14, to claim the first match, 3-2 (12-25, 25-23, 25-20, 11-25, 16-14). 
 
Canisius would not gain control of the second match with the Broncs, dropping all three sets (23-25, 18-25, 22-25) to split the doubleheader. 
 
Match One Recap
After falling behind after dropping the first set, Canisius would claim the following two sets before Rider would take control in the fourth. Canisius would fall behind early in the fifth and final set of the match before storming back to claim the decisive set and end the first match of the afternoon victorious. 
 
Canisius would drop the first set of the afternoon but responded quickly in the second set, never trailing and running out to an early 8-1 lead paced by Rachel Kinney's two kills. Rider answered back with a 5-0 run, which included three service aces. Two kills by Giulia La Longa and Hannah Nelson helped the Griffs tie the match up after the second set. 
 
Yet again, in the third set, the Blue & Gold jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the frame behind kills courtesy of Ella Loussia, Kinney and Bree Long. The Griffs would never trail in the set, as two kills from Nelson would stretch the Blue & Gold's advantage to their largest in the set, 23-16. A brief 4-0 spurt by the Broncs behind two kills from Tori Schrader and a kill from Morgan Romano would bring the home team within three, forcing a Canisius timeout. Following the break, Canisius would close out the set behind kills from La Longa and Camila Vazquez to take a 2-1 lead into the fourth set. 
 
The momentum would shift in the fourth set of the match, as Rider would start with a 10-6 lead. Canisius would answer right back with a 3-0 run of their own. The Broncs would continue their stellar play using a 14-2 run to finish the set, winning 25-11, sending the match to a fifth set.
 
Two kills by Romano would help Rider start the final set with a 6-2 lead. Two service aces from Loussia would help Canisius claw back into the set, but the Griffs would still trail 9-7. After falling behind 14-10, Canisius would call a timeout to stop the Broncs' momentum. A 6-0 spurt by the Blue & Gold would lift the Griffs to victory, winning the final set, 16-14, and taking the first match of the day in five sets.
 
Canisius was led by Loussia's 10 kills for an attack that hit .068 (33-22-162). Nelson would chip in with nine kills of her own to go along with four service aces. 
 
Sophomore Bree Long led Canisius with 24 digs, followed by Nelson and Kinney with 14 and 12, respectively. Ashley Kekeisen paced the Griffs' passing with 14 assists. 
 
Rider was led by Romano's 20 kills and Ali Ward's 18 kills for the Broncs, which hit .202 (66-28-188) in the opener. Danielle Blanco led the match with 27 digs and Anilee Sher finished the match for Rider with 51 assists. 
 
Match Two Recap
In the first set of the nightcap, Canisius started out ahead courtesy of a 5-2 spark before back-to-back kills courtesy of Romano would bring Rider within a point. A 4-0 boost by the Broncs late in the set behind kills by Ali Ward, Romano and Kerrigan Casper would give the home team a 23-18 edge. 
 
However, the Blue & Gold's five-straight points, with the help of two kills by Hannah Nelson and one kill by Rachel Kinney, would knot the first set at 23-23. Following a Rider timeout, back-to-back points from Romano and Ward would close out the set, giving Rider a 25-23 advantage. 
 
Following a 5-2 start by Rider in the second set, Canisius would swing the momentum in their favor with a 6-1 run, which included two kills by Elle Shult, giving the Griffs an 8-6 lead. Following back-and-forth play between the teams, Rider would finally break through with four-straight points, leading 20-16. A 5-2 run by the Broncs to end the set would give the home team a 2-0 lead in the match, heading into the third and final set. 
 
In what became the final set of the nightcap, Rider would jump out to a 9-6 edge with three kills by Romano. Three-straight points by Canisius would help the Blue & Gold square the score at 9-9. Following back-and-forth play throughout the set, Canisius would rattle off three straight points with kills from Ella Loussia and Shult. 
 
Rider would respond, closing the match on a 6-1 spark behind Romano's two kills to complete the three-set sweep of Canisius. 
 
Canisius was led on attack by Kinney with 10 kills, as the Blue & Gold hit .129 (33-16-132) in the defeat. Nelson and Loussia would contribute with 8 and 6 kills, respectively. 
 
Romano paced the Broncs attack with a match-high 21 kills, as Rider hit .221 (47-16-140) as a team. Anilee Sher led the second match with 41 assists, as the Broncs also had four players contribute with double-digit digs. 
 
Head Coach Shannon Thompson's Comments
"We fought hard in both matches today, but things weren't falling like they normally do. We were struggling to execute and stick to the game plan. We can learn a lot from today, adjust and grow as a team."
 
"In the first match we talked about playing Canisius volleyball, which is gritty and fast. We did that in the final six points (of the 5th set) and we didn't let up."
 
"After the game, we talked a lot about learning how to turn the game around when things aren't going your way. We told them we need to stick to our game plan and execute and to focus on the little things and fundamentals. The biggest thing is that we are learning and growing from today and taking important steps going forward."
 
Up Next
Canisius returns to the floor Sunday afternoon when they welcome Iona to Koessler Athletic Center for a pair of MAAC contests. Game times are slated for 12 and 4 p.m.
 
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