Redshirt sophomore Julia Lenik exploded for a career-best 17 kills on 38 swings to hit at a .316 efficiency rate to lead Canisius to a 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22) victory over Iona in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, N.Y.
Canisius won its second straight match as it improved to 6-11 overall and 4-3 in MAAC play. Iona, meanwhile, slipped to 7-14 on the season and 2-5 in conference play with the loss.
Senior Bella Mosquera aided the Golden Griffins offense with 12 kills. Senior Ella Bourque dished out 47 assists and junior Brenda Reynaga recorded a match-high 16 digs.
For Iona, Julia Leonardo led the way with 14 kills while Caleigh Schroeder added 33 assists and 10 digs.
Canisius opened the match with two straight set victories at 25-17 and 25-21, respectively. The Griffs hit at a .235-clip as a team in the opening set, its most efficient of the entire match.
After Iona claimed the third set with a 25-18 victory, the two sides found themselves tied at 21-21 in the fourth frame. Two kills from Lenik propelled the Blue and Gold to a 25-22 set win to close out the match.
MATCH NOTES
• Canisius and Iona met for the second time this season with the Blue and Gold prevailing in both contests.
• The Griffs have now defeated the Gaels in five straight matches, dating back to the 2022 season.
• Mosquera’s 12 kills on 26 swings tallied a team-best .423 hitting efficiency in the match.
• Bourque has tallied 40-or-more assists in seven matches this season.
• Senior Kalia Reisma and Mosquera teamed up for five block assists each.
• Head coach Tom Hanna recorded his 250th career win on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Canisius returns home to host Rider in its annual Dig Pink match on Friday, Oct. 17. First serve between the Griffs and Broncs is slated for 6 p.m. at the Koessler Athletic Center.
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Volleyball Downs Iona in Four Sets first appeared on Canisius University Athletics.
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