Volleyball Opens the 2026 Season at Youngstown State

The Canisius volleyball team officially opens up the 2026 season on the road in Youngstown, Ohio, to compete in the YSU Invitational, presented by Mercy Health. This marks the third in the last four years where the Golden Griffins have opened the season at Youngstown State.

Friday, Aug. 28
Canisius vs. Duquesne - 11 a.m.  WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS
Canisius vs. Mercyhurst - 4 p.m.  WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

Saturday, Aug. 29
Canisius at Youngstown State - 3 p.m.  WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

What You Need to Know:
• The Golden Griffins return 11 letterwinners from the 2025 roster, which finished 9-9 in conference play and reached the semifinal round of the 2025 MAAC Volleyball Championship tournament.
• Canisius has advanced to the conference tournament semifinals in each of the last two seasons and six times in the last 10 years.
• The Griffs were picked fourth in the 2026 Metro Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the team's highest preseason rank since the 2021 season.
• Canisius junior Emma Isroff is the Griffs' top returning point scorer from a season ago. Isroff was good for 2.86 points per set in 2025.
• Sophomore Madi Cowan, a member of the 2025 MAAC All-Rookie Team, put down 284 total kills in 111 sets last year. She is the team's top returning player in kills per set after she recorded 2.56 per session in her freshman campaign.
• Senior libero Brenda Reynaga led the team in total digs (540) and digs per set (4.50). That ranked third in the league in both categories.
• The 2026 Griffs welcome five freshmen to this season's roster. Hayden Siebenaler, Cali Tierney, Emily Helmers, Hannah Rider and Kenslie Warmbrodt are all in their first year with the Blue and Gold.
• Canisius will open the year with a non-conference, neutral site match against Duquesne. The Griffs have met the Dukes 13 previous times in a series which dates back to 1990.
• Canisius and Mercyhurst will meet for the 22nd time in series history, a series which began in 1978. The Griffs have taken three of the last four meetings from the Lakers since 2024, the same year that Mercyhurst moved to the NCAA Division I level.
• Saturday's match versus Youngstown State marks the 23rd meeting in series history. This marks the fifth-straight year the Griffs and Penguins have played each other in the non-conference schedule.

UP NEXT
Canisius returns to action Sept. 2, when the Griffs travel to face cross-town rival Buffalo in the first match of the Canisius/UB Tournament. That match in UB's Broadview Arena is set to start at 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Madi Cowan: OH/L; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#16 Emma Isroff: RS; 6' 0"; Junior

#11 Brenda Reynaga: L; 5' 3"; Senior

#6 Cali Tierney: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#3 Hayden Siebenaler: MB; 5' 10"; Freshman

#9 Emily Helmers: MB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#10 Hannah Rider: L; 5' 5"; Freshman

#19 Kenslie Warmbrodt: S; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Madi Cowan
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: OH/L

#16 Emma Isroff
: 6' 0"; Junior
: RS

#11 Brenda Reynaga
: 5' 3"; Senior
: L

#6 Cali Tierney
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH

#3 Hayden Siebenaler
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: MB

#9 Emily Helmers
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MB

#10 Hannah Rider
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: L

#19 Kenslie Warmbrodt
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: S