Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Canisius University Athletics

#Griffs The Official Home of the Canisius University Golden Griffins | #Griffs
Julia Lenik prepares to hit ball against Marist at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, N.Y. on Oct. 26th 2025
Lucas Dembski
2
Merrimack Merri 9-17,7-10 MAAC
3
Winner Canisius Canis 11-16,9-8 MAAC
Merrimack Merri
9-17,7-10 MAAC
2
Final
3
Canisius Canis
11-16,9-8 MAAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Merrimack Merri 25 25 21 20 10 (2)
Canisius Canis 23 21 25 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Volleyball Earns Postseason Berth with Five-Set Win Over Merrimack

Canisius redshirt-sophomore Julia Lenik put down 11 of her match-high 19 kills in the final three sets to help the Golden Griffins storm back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Merrimack 3-2 in MAAC volleyball action Friday night at the Koessler Athletic Center.
 
With the win and other results from around the conference on Friday night, Canisius (11-16, 9-8) officially qualified for the 2025 MAAC Volleyball Championship. Merrimack, which fell to 9-17 overall and 7-10 in league play with the loss, was officially eliminated from postseason consideration.
 
Lenik was one of three Canisius players to record double-digit kills in the victory. Freshman Madi Cowan was good for 18 kills on the night, while senior Bella Mosquera added 13 kills, seven block assists and two assists to the winning cause. Canisius won the match by set scores of 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-10.
 
Aubrey Baker recorded 14 kills in the loss for the Warriors, who saw their four-match win streak come to an end with the loss. Mckenna Shotwell added 12 kills and a team-high 14 digs for Merrimack, which hit .152 as a team and posted 20 block assists on the night.
 
Merrimack took an early 2-0 lead in the match by taking the opening two frames by scores of 25-23 and 25-21. Out of the match intermission, Canisius cut that lead in half to 2-1 with a 25-21 victory in the third set. In that frame, Lenik, Cowan and Mosquera each had four kills to lead the Griffs' offense, as the team hit .342 to go along with six block assists. In the fourth frame, Canisius evened the match at 2-2 thanks to six kills by Cowan. Lenik added four kills, while Mosquera and junior Kalia Reisma each recorded three kills, apiece. Midway through the fourth set, Merrimack led Canisius 12-9, but the Griffs rattled off the frame's next six points to take a 15-12 lead, an advantage the Blue and Gold never gave back en route to forcing the fifth and deciding set.
 
In the fifth set, Reisma and junior Hannah Kos teamed for a block that gave the Griffs a 12-9 lead. Merrimack challenged the call on the floor, but the challenge was unsuccessful. From there, Canisius scored three of the final four points of the night to seal the victory, capped by a kill from Kos, who ended the night with nine kills to go with five digs and four block assists.
 
Canisius senior Ella Bourque recorded a match-high 59 assists in the victory and moved into second-place on the school's career assists list, passing former Griff Cassidy Ceriani. Junior Brenda Reynaga recorded a match-high 27 digs in the victory, while fellow junior Azoria Davis recorded 11 digs.
 
MATCH NOTES
• Friday was the third meeting between Canisius and Merrimack, and the Griffs lead the series 2-1. The two teams split the regular-season series this year.
• Canisius improved to 7-1 at home this season with the win.
• Friday was the Griffs' 10th five-set match this season. Canisius is 5-5 in those 10 contests.
• Lenik has now posted 10-or more kills in 10 matches, and eight of those double-digit efforts have come in league play.
• Reisma was credited with seven block assists in the victory, the fourth time in the team's last five outings where she's recorded five-or more block assists.
• Reynaga posted three service aces in the win, her 12th match this season with multiple service aces.
 
UP NEXT
Canisius will close out the 2025 regular season at home on Saturday when the team plays host to Quinnipiac on Senior Day. Game time is set for 2 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

SUPPORT THE GRIFFS
Support Canisius volleyball in conjunction with the "More Than A Game" campaign. Your donation to the volleyball program helps our student-athletes continue to be champions in the community, in the classroom and in competition. To donate, CLICK HERE.

Like Canisius Athletics on Facebook
Follow @GoGriffs and @GriffVolleyball on X
Follow @GoGriffs and @GriffVolleyball on Instagram
Follow @Griffvb on TikTok
 
Print Friendly Version