Volleyball 10/2/2024 8:27:00 PM

Volleyball Drops Midweek Match at Niagara

Box Score Kinga Wronska recorded a match-high 17 kills and added 24 digs to pace Niagara in a 3-1 (18-25, 26-24, 25-23, 25-21) victory over Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference volleyball action Wednesday at the Gallagher Center in Lewiston, N.Y.

The Niagara Purple Eagles improved to 7-7 overall and remained undefeated in conference play, moving to 3-0 against league competition. Canisius fell to 6-8 on the year and 2-1 in conference play with the setback.

Wronska was the only Niagara player to record double-digit kills as Payton Lee pitched in nine kills and Laryssa Imbuzeiro added in eight. Bella Peroni notched a match-best 31 digs, one of three Purple Eagles to finish with double-digit digs as Wronska chipped in 24 and Kylie Blessing pitched in 12 to go along with her team-best 24 assists.

Senior Kara Zaucha recorded a team-high 14 kills for Canisius. Zaucha was also finished with a team-high 23 digs, one of four Griffs to reach double digits in that category. Junior Bella Mosquera joined Zaucha in double figures with 10 kills and added in a match-best eight total blocks while junior setter Ella Bourque dished out 38 assists and finished with 12 digs to post a double-double.

Neither side was able to command the first set until a pair of attack errors from the Purple Eagles gave the Griffs a 20-16 advantage.

Canisius held a narrow 16-15 lead midway through the first set before a pair of attack errors by the Purple Eagles ignited a 9-3 run for the Griffs that lasted through the end of the frame, giving the visitors a 25-18 victory and a 1-0 lead in the match.

The second set saw Canisius hold a 23-20 lead in the later stages of the frame, only to have the Purple Eagles notch six of the last even points of the set to rally for a 26-24 victory to knot the match at 1-1.

Niagara enjoyed a 17-10 lead midway through the third set before a 9-1 run by Canisius put the Griffs in front, 19-18. The teams exchanged points until consecutive attack errors by Canisius allowed the Purple Eagles to claim a 25-23 victory and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Niagara closed out the match with a 25-21 victory in the fourth set, using an 8-1 spurt during the middle stages of the frame to break a 12-12 tie on its way to victory.

GAME NOTES
• Zaucha recorded double-digit kills for the ninth time this season with her 14-kill performance on Wednesday.
• Zaucha also established a career high with her 23 digs, eclipsing her previous personal best of 21, set last September against Rider.
• Hanna finished with 20-or-more digs in a match for the third time this season as she recorded 22 digs on Wednesday.
• Mosquera has notched 17 total blocks over the last two matches, having posted a career-high nine total blocks in the Griffs' victory versus Marist on Sunday.
• Mosquera recorded double-digit kills for the second time this season with her 10-kill performance on Wednesday.
• Graduate Sofia Hedqvist finished with a career-high 18 digs on Wednesday, her fifth match with double-digit digs this season.

UP NEXT
Canisius returns to action Saturday when it travels to Lawrenceville, N.J., to face Rider in a 1 p.m. contest. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Ella Bourque: S; 5' 11"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club

#14 Bella Mosquera: MB; 6' 2"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club

#11 Kara Zaucha: OH; 5' 10"; Senior; NOVA Juniors

#8 Sofia Hedqvist: OH; 6' 0"; Graduate Student; Northern Nevada Juniors

Players Mentioned

#6 Ella Bourque
: 5' 11"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club
: S

#14 Bella Mosquera
: 6' 2"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club
: MB

#11 Kara Zaucha
: 5' 10"; Senior; NOVA Juniors
: OH

#8 Sofia Hedqvist
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student; Northern Nevada Juniors
: OH