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Kara Zaucha serves the ball against Niagara on Sept. 30, 2023
Joe Lehrman
3
Winner Niagara Niag 4-9,3-2 MAAC
1
Canisius Canis 3-10,1-4 MAAC
Winner
Niagara Niag
4-9,3-2 MAAC
3
Final
1
Canisius Canis
3-10,1-4 MAAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Niagara Niag 25 26 19 25 (3)
Canisius Canis 23 24 25 18 (1)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Topped by Niagara

GAME RECAP
The Canisius volleyball team was defeated by Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara 3-1, in the first meeting of the 2023-24 Canal Cup series, Saturday afternoon at the Koessler Athletic Center.
 
Canisius (3-10, 1-3 MAAC) was paced by freshman Lauren Hubert's 15 kill and 18 digs while junior Kara Zaucha added 12 kills and 15 digs. Sophomore Bella Mosquera collected six total blocks and recorded a team-high two service aces, while sophomore setter Ella Bourque added 41 assists to the losing effort.
 
Cassie Seminoff and Jenna Vogen led the Purple Eagles (4-9, 3-1 MAAC) with 12 kills, apiece and Bella Peroni recorded a match high 24 digs. Laryssa Imbuzerio totaled a career-high nine total blocks, including three solo blocks.
 
In a tightly contest first set that came down to the final few points, Niagara held a late 23-22 lead. Mosquera's fourth kill of the opening frame tied the set at 23-23, but the Purple Eagles with a kill and then used a subsequent Canisius attack error to win the set, 25-23 and take a 1-0 match lead.
 
The Golden Griffins led set two, 24-22, before the Purple Eagles ripped off four-straight points to score the 26-24 set victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match heading into the intermission. In that set, which featured 14 ties and nine lead changes, Vogen had six kills for Niagara, with two of those coming in the final scoring spurt that gave the Purple Eagles the victory.
 
In the third set, the Griffs started strong by taking an early 5-2 lead in the frame. With the score tied 15-15, Canisius came out of its timeout and pulled away from Niagara with a 9-4 scoring run to force a fourth set thanks to the 25-19 victory. In that late push by Canisius, the Griffs took advantage of four Niagara attack errors as the Blue and Gold's defense held the Purple Eagles to a -.111 team attack percentage for the set.

In the fourth and final set, Seminoff put down three kills to lead the attack for Niagara, which led by as many as nine points midway through the frame. Canisius battled until the end, getting the score to 24-18 down the stretch, however, a Canisius service error on match-point ended up being the final point of the day, as Niagara scored the 25-18 win in set four.
 
POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH TOM HANNA
MATCH NOTES
• Saturday was the 112th all-time meeting between Canisius and Niagara in volleyball. Canisius has played more matches against the Purple Eagles than any other opponent.
• With the win, Niagara earned the first point in the 2023-24 Battle of the Bridge rivalry series and the Purple Eagles also ended a three-match losing streak to the Griffs.
• Hubert is averaging 12.3 kills and 16.3 digs per match in her first four career MAAC matches. She has recorded 10-or more digs in four-straight matches, as well.
• Zaucha has now posted a double-double in kills and digs in each of her last three outings.
• The 41 assists for Bourque gives her 40-or more assists in a match three times this season and 12 times in her career.
• Borque's five block assists in Saturday's contest set a new career high.
• Junior Jillian Hanna has been credited with 10-or more digs in 10-straight matches after she posted 14 digs on Saturday. She also extended her string of matches with multiple assists to four after she earned two assists against the Purple Eagles.
• Junior Emma Mans made her first start of the season and recorded seven kills for the Griffs.
 
UP NEXT
Canisius will close out its weekend series with Niagara on Sunday, when the Golden Griffins travel to play at Niagara. Match time in Lewiston, N.Y., is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

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