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Ella Loussia prepares to serve in a home match vs. Niagara at the Koessler Athletic Center on Sept. 25, 2022.
Lindy Feider
0
Niagara Niag 3-11,1-3 MAAC
3
Winner Canisius Canis 5-8,3-1 MAAC
Niagara Niag
3-11,1-3 MAAC
0
Final
3
Canisius Canis
5-8,3-1 MAAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Niagara Niag 23 8 16 (0)
Canisius Canis 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Sweeps Niagara in Battle of the Bridge

The Canisius volleyball team completed a weekend sweep of Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara on Sunday, posting a 3-0 (25-23, 25-8, 25-16) victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Koessler Athletic Center.

With the win, the Griffs record improved to 5-8 overall and 3-1 in MAAC play. The Purple Eagles, meanwhile, fell to 3-11 on the season and 1-3 in MAAC action.
 
The first set came down to the wire as the teams battled to to a 22-all score late in the frame. Off the Niagara serve, senior outside hitter Ella Loussia received a pass from freshman setter Ella Bourque to nab a kill and give the Griffs a 23-22 lead. After exchanging the next two points, Bourque found open space on the other side of the court to put down a kill to record the 25-23 victory and gave Canisius a 1-0 lead.
 
The second set was a Loussia masterclass as she led a 5-0 run with three kills and a service ace before starting a 10-0 charge later in the set with three kills and one service ace to put the Griffs up, 18-6. After a quick Purple Eagle score, senior middle hitter Elle Shult chipped in a pair of kills and graduate defensive specialist Stella Johnson added an ace to usher in a 6-1 stretch that closed the set and gave the Griffs a 25-8 win and a 2-0 lead.
 
Down 2-0, Niagara kept it close early with Canisius in the final frame before two separate 3-0 spurts, led by Bourque and Long, gave the Griffs some breathing room at 17-12. Up 22-16, consecutive attack errors by Niagara on serves from Johnson setup match point, where a kill from sophomore outside hitter Taylor Baldwin wrapped up the 25-16 set victory and 3-0 match victory.
 
Loussia led the Griffs with 13 kills while Bourque added 31 assists. As a team, Canisius had one of their top offensive outings this season, posting a .299 hitting percentage (43-11-107).
 
Taylor Allen paced Niagara with eight kills while Kelly McArthur added 15 assists. The Purple Eagles were limited to a .102 (27-16-108) hitting percentage for the match.
 
Match Notes:
• Canisius picks up both points for the Canal Cup and gives the Griffs a 2-0 lead in the all-sports series between the two longtime rivals. 
• For the first time since the 2018 season, the Griffs swept the Purple Eagles in the regular season.
• The last time Canisius allowed less than ten points in a during one the first four sets was back on Sept. 20, 2019, when they only allowed eight points to Saint Francis (PA.) during the third set. Canisius also won that match by a 3-0 margin.
• Head coach Tom Hanna swept Niagara for the fourth time in his career. While at Marist, he swept the Purple Eagles three times.
• With her two service aces today, Loussia has now recorded a service ace in 12 straight matches, dating back to Aug. 26 against Purdue Fort Wayne.
 
Up Next:
The Blue & Gold are back in action on Oct. 1st when they head to New Rochelle, N.Y., to take on Iona.
 
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