The Canisius volleyball team got the first win of the season and the first win of the Lenika Vazquez era on Saturday afternoon, as the squad defeated host Bucknell, 3-2 (29-27, 25-21, 22-25, 21-25, 15-13).
The Griffs got strong performances up and down the lineup but none stronger than its senior leader Katlyn Tyler. Tyler ended the contest with her first double-double of the season, notching 18 kills and 21 digs for Canisius. Fellow senior Jacklyn Malusa also had a strong day notching 13 kills and just four errors on 28 attacks for the highest hitting percentage of the match (.321).
The freshman also got in on the action with Gabrielle Darnaby and Cassidy Ceriani posting double-doubles. Daranaby recorded 12 kills and 19 digs, while Ceriani posted 43 assits and 14 digs for the Canisius cause. Leah Simmons also posted strong numbers with 12 kills and just four errors on 29 attacks for a .276 hitting percentage.
Cansisius’ offense looked much stronger in its second match posting a team hitting percentage of .188 while the Bison were close behind with a mark of .187. Canisius started strong against Bucknell jumping out to a 9-4 lead and forcing an early Bucknell timeout.
Out of the break the Bison battled back to take the lead 11-10. Out of a Canisius timeout, the Griffs regained control going on a 7-2 run to make it 17-13. Canisius extended that score to 24-16, looking to be in the driver seat, but Bucknell notched eight-straight points to knot it up at 24-24.
After four set points between the two squads the marathon first set ended with a big double block by Sara Wesley and Tyler to end the frame 29-27.
In set two it was tight early on with Bucknell staking claim to a two-point lead midway through the frame, 15-13. Out of the timeout the Griffs took control, going on a 5-1 run to stake claim to a 18-16 lead, and rode that momentum to a 25-21 victory. All told Canisius went on a 12-6 run to take the set out of the timeout.
Bucknell battled back in sets 3 and four to force a decisive fifth frame but the Blue and Gold made the last stand. With the score 10-7 the Griffs fended off several comeback bids by the Bison, as a kill by Malusa ended the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
GAME TWO RECAP:
Canisius kept the momentum going at the end of Saturday as the squad made quick work of its 3-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson to end the Bucknell Tournament with a 2-1 record. The Grifs completed the two-match sweep on Saturday, as the squad completed the first weekend of play over .500 for the first time since 2008.
Tyler was once again the Griffs leader, recording 17 kills and 14 digs in just three sets. In match No. 2, another freshman came to the forefront as Carly Shifflet recorded 11 kills and seven digs, coming up just shy of the double-double.
In the first set, Canisius led for much of the frame, however FDU took a late lead, 22-21, however the Blue and Gold scored four of the final five points to stake claim to the early 1-0 lead.
The second set appeared to be another tight frame, as the Knights knotted up the score, 16-16, before Canisius went on a 9-3 run to go up 2-0, and took control of the match.
The third set proved to be the nail in the coffin for FDU, as the Griffs never looked back from a 7-7 tie score, outscoring the Knights 18-10 to seal the final frame and take the match, 3-0.
As a team the Blue and Gold notched a .295 hitting percentage through the match, while FDU recorded a mark of .163.
UP NEXT:
The Golden Griffins will now have a week to prepare for its next test, as the squad will travel to South Orange, N.J. to face Towson on Sept. 2, and Seton Hall and George Washington on Sept. 3.
