Junior Emma Isroff recorded a match-high 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage to pace Canisius in a 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-21) victory over Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara in Metro Conference volleyball action Tuesday at the Gallagher Center in Lewiston, N.Y.
Isroff's performance highlighted a balanced Golden Griffins (2-11, 1-2 Metro) attack that saw three players register eight-or-more kills in the sweep. Redshirt Junior Julia Lenik pitched in nine kills while senior Azoria Davis notched eight. Senior Brenda Reynaga tallied 11 digs while Lenik pitched in eight.
Payton Lee and Kaitlyn Doyle notched eight kills apiece for the Purple Eagles (1-10, 0-3 Metro), who were held to a .060 hitting percentage for the match. Ashley Moreland led all players with 14 digs.
Trailing 6-5 early in the first set, back-to-back kills from Isroff and Lenik sparked a 6-1 run that gave the Griffs an 11-7 edge. The Purple Eagles pulled within two later in the frame, 14-12, only to see Canisius rattle off five unanswered points to regain control as it posted a 25-17 victory to take the opening set.
In a closely contested second set that featured a total 16 ties and seven lead changes, the teams were deadlocked at 24-24 when a Niagara service error and a kill by Davis propelled the Griffs to a 26-24 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Canisius closed out the match with a 25-21 victory in the third set, registering nine unanswered points midway through the frame to build a double-digit lead before holding off a late Purple Eagles rally to secure the sweep.
GAME NOTES
• Tuesday's matchup marked the 118th meeting between Canisius and Niagara. With the win, the Blue and Gold extended their lead to six games in the series history with an overall record of 61-55-2.
• Canisius posted a team hitting percentage of .212 in the match, highlighted by a .313 attack clip in the second set (14-4-32). It marked the fourth time this season that the Griffs have hit above .200.
• Isroff tallied double-digit kills for the fourth time this season with her 10-kill effort on Tuesday.
• Canisius as a team recorded 11 service aces, the highest total for the Griffs in a three-set match this season.
• Senior libero Brenda Reynaga tallied 11 digs in tonight's match, increasing her season total to 197 digs and 4.38 digs per set.
UP NEXT
Canisius travels to Lawrenceville, N.J., Friday to face Metro Conference foe Rider in a 6 p.m. match. The contest will be broadcast live through Rider's BroncVision.
