EDISON, NJ (Sept. 26, 2022) – Canisius, Fairfield, and Iona swept their competition to go an undefeated 2-0 in MAAC Volleyball conference action this weekend. The Stags now improve to a perfect 4-0 in MAAC play to sit atop the conference standings.  
 
Saturday, September 25
Canisius (4-8, 2-1 MAAC) – 3 | Niagara (3-10, 1-2 MAAC) – 1
Gallagher Center | NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY
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Canisius Recap
Niagara Recap
 
Canisius defeated Niagara, 3-1, in the first match of the Battle of the Bridge rivalry. The Golden Griffins won the match with scores of 25-21, 28-26, 20-25 and 25-22. With their backs against the wall down two sets to none, the Purple Eagles had full control of the third set, going up by as much as seven. Even with a late run started by kills from Alexa Albinson, the Griffs fell, 25-20, and saw their match lead cut in half, 2-1. The fourth set again came down to the wire just at the previous frames had with Canisius up one, 22-21. Ella Loussia gave the Griffs some breathing room with back-to-back kills to make it, 24-22. Up one, 24-23, after a Niagara point, Kara Zaucha checked into the match and off the serve, received an assist from Ella Bourque to nab the game-winning kill to take the set, 25-23, and match 3-1. Loussia led the Griffs with 20 kills while Bourque chipped in 45 assists. As a team, the Blue & Gold hit at a .151 clip (62-31-105). Jenna Vogen had 11 kills in the contest with Kylie Blessing having 14 assists for Niagara.
 
Fairfield (9-5, 3-0 MAAC) – 3 | Marist (6-7, 2-1 MAAC) – 0
McCann Arena | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
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Fairfield Recap
Marist Recap
 
Fairfield University Volleyball put up a formidable block to stifle host Marist on Saturday in Poughkeepsie, using that the defensive front to polish off a 3-0 sweep of the Red Foxes. KJ Johnson had a hand in six of those rejections and also posted a team-leading 12 kills. Coupled with Rider's three-set loss at Iona, the Stags are only remaining MAAC unbeaten in the early stages of league play. The block party also included four send-backs for Ella Gardiner and three solo stuffs from Sabria Cooper. The back row contributed to the defensive effort with libero Kyla Berg notching a match-high 19 digs, while Mikayla Haut added seven and Johnson posted six. All told, the Fairfield defense limited Marist to a .111 hitting percentage, including 11 errors – most of them courtesy of Stags' blocks – from standout hitter Sasha van de Merwe. On the offensive side, Johnson's 12 kills came on 30 errorless attempts for an even .400 hitting percentage. Marist was led by 15 kills for van der Merwe and seven from Gabrielle Heller. Setter McKinley Fox had a match-high 25 assists, and libero Morgan Owens paced the Red Foxes back row with 13 digs.
 
Iona (7-6, 2-1 MAAC) – 3 | Rider (3-9, 1-1 MAAC) – 0
Hynes Athletics Center | NEW ROCHELLE, NY
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Iona Recap
Rider Recap
 
The Iona University volleyball team defeated Rider in three-sets (26-24, 25-23, 25-13) on Saturday afternoon to earn their seventh victory of the season. Jen Soto poured in 10 kills and a career-high eight blocks in Iona's three-set victory at the Hynes Center. Hope Matschner finished with a match-high 20 digs along with Mackenzie Wiggins pouring in nine of her own. Wiggins and Elena Bianchi finished with eight kills apiece along with Greta Stjade chipping in seven in the win. Soto and Fleur Wiersma contributed to 12 of Iona's 18 total blocks while Tamara Pichardo (21) and Samantha Juran (12) dished out 33 of Iona's 40 assist in the match
 
Manhattan (1-10, 1-2 MAAC) – 3 | Saint Peter’s (0-14, 0-2 MAAC) – 2
Draddy Gymnasium | RIVERDALE, NY
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Manhattan Recap
Saint Peter’s Recap
 
Manhattan defeated Saint Peter's Saturday afternoon at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers won by scores of 28-26, 30-28, 28-30, 23-25, 15-10. The win was head coach Mauro Miletic's first win as a head coach. In the fifth and final set, Manhattan was able to win the race to 15 and win 15-10. Early in the set, the Jaspers were able to go on a six point scoring run, kicked off by a kill from Julia Menocal. Manhattan maintained a healthy lead until Saint Peter's was able to answer back and bring the lead down to 3 points. However, Manhattan was able to secure the win with another kill by Menocal. The offensive leaders of the game were Menocal, with a season-high of 37 points, 33 kills and 4 aces. Kelly Markowski also had a season-high 14 kills. Sarah Emmons dished a total of 27 assists, with Julianne Mckee at 25. On defense, Teresa Garza scored 21 digs.
 
Quinnipiac (2-8, 1-2 MAAC) – 3 | Siena (3-9, 1-2 MAAC) – 2
UHY Center | LOUDONVILLE, NY
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Quinnipiac Recap
Siena Recap
 
Behind a double-double apiece from Alexandra Tennon and Aryanah Diaz, the Quinnipiac volleyball team earned its first MAAC victory of the season with a thrilling five-set victory over Siena on the road Saturday afternoon inside of the Alumni Recreation Center. Tennon posted 16 kills and 13 digs for her third double-double of the season, while Diaz added 14 kills and 12 digs for the Bobcats in the victory. The Bobcats found themselves down 10-4 in the set before slowly battling back to tie the set at 13-13. With the set tied, Damla Gunes scored a block at the net to give the Bobcats match point, before assisting on a kill from Tennon to take the final set and match. Diaz totaled 14 kills and 12 digs for her fifth straight double-double in as many contests and her fifth overall of the season.
 
Sunday, September 25
Canisius (5-8, 3-1 MAAC) – 3 | Niagara (3-11, 1-3 MAAC) – 0
Koessler Athletic Center | BUFFALO, NY
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Canisius Recap
Niagara Recap
 
The Canisius volleyball team completed a weekend sweep of Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara on Sunday, posting a 3-0 (25-23, 25-8, 25-16) victory in MAAC action at the Koessler Athletic Center. Down 2-0, Niagara kept it close early with Canisius in the final frame before two separate 3-0 spurts, led by Ella Bourque and Bree Long, gave the Griffs some breathing room at 17-12. Up 22-16, consecutive attack errors by Niagara on serves from Stella Johnson setup match point, where a kill from Taylor Baldwin wrapped up the 25-16 set victory and 3-0 match victory. Loussia led the Griffs with 13 kills while Bourque added 31 assists. As a team, Canisius had one of their top offensive outings this season, posting a .299 hitting percentage (43-11-107). Taylor Allen paced Niagara with eight kills while Kelly McArthur added 15 assists. The Purple Eagles were limited to a .102 (27-16-108) hitting percentage for the match.
 
Fairfield (10-5, 4-0 MAAC) – 3 | Siena (3-10, 1-3 MAAC) – 0
UHY Center | LOUDONVILLE, NY
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Fairfield Recap
Siena Recap
 
Fairfield University Volleyball played its fourth consecutive road contest to open the MAAC schedule on Sunday at Siena, and the Stags came away with their fourth straight 3-0 victory to remain as the league's only unbeaten team. Allie Elliott and Blakely Montgomery both posted double-doubles in the sweep of the Saints. Elliott hit .375 from the pins to amass 10 kills (10-1-24) while Maya Walker led the effort in the middle with seven kills on .462 hitting (7-1-13). KJ Johnson was Fairfield's most prolific finisher with 13 kills at a .281 clip. Sara Daniels and Mikayla Haut supplemented the attack with three kills apiece. Defensively, four Stags had 12 digs apiece in Berg, Doll, Elliott and Montgomery, while Noelle Carey added seven from the back row. At the net, Daniels and Johnson each had a hand in four of the Stags' six team blocks. The Fairfield defensive effort limited Siena to a .120 hitting percentage. The Saints got eight kills from Ece Emrullah and seven by Sara Wagner to pace their offense. Siena libero Grace Halley led all players with 20 digs.
 
Iona (8-6, 3-1 MAAC) – 3 | Saint Peter’s (0-15, 0-3 MAAC) – 0
Hynes Athletics Center | NEW ROCHELLE, NY
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Iona Recap
Saint Peter’s Recap
 
The Iona University volleyball team earned a three-set victory (25-8, 25-12, 28-26) over Saint Peter's on Sunday afternoon to improve to a perfect 5-0 at the Hynes Center this season and 3-1 in MAAC play. Nerin Valasakos and Mackenzie Wiggins each finished with nine kills to lead a well-rounded offensive attack in the victory. Hope Matshcner poured in a match-high 15 digs along with a season-high five assists  while Tamara Pichardo (7), Samantha Juran (5), and Valasakos (5) rounded out the defensive efforts in the win. Valasakos's nine kills were a season-high to go along with her five digs. Jen Soto finished with eight kills and Fleur Wiersma tallied in five blocks. 12 different Gaels recorded kills in the home victory.
 
Marist (7-7, 3-1 MAAC) – 3 | Quinnipiac (2-9, 1-3 MAAC) – 0
McCann Arena | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
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Marist Recap
Quinnipiac Recap
 
The Marist volleyball team took down Quinnipiac in 3 sets on Sunday at McCann Arena, as the Red Foxes added to the win total. Marist won by scores of 25-18, 25-22, 25-22. The Red Foxes were in control throughout the first set, going up by as much as 19-11. The Bobcats didn't have an answer as Marist took the first set 25-18. In the second set, Quinnipiac started strong going up 4-1, but the Red Foxes surged back. As Marist went up 22-17, the Bobcats fought back to make it 22-21, but the Foxes held on to win 25-22. The third set saw Quinnipiac start hot by going up 11-5, but after a needed timeout, the Red Foxes clawed back to tie it 12-12. The rest of the set was a very back and forth affair until Marist pulled away at the end to take the set 25-22. Sasha van der Merwe led both teams in kills with 18. McKinley Fox had a dominant performance as she led both teams in assists with 40.
 
Rider (4-9, 2-1 MAAC) – 3 | Manhattan (1-11, 1-3 MAAC) – 1
Draddy Gymnasium | RIVERDALE, NY
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Rider Recap
Manhattan Recap
 
The Rider University volleyball team bounced back from its first conference loss Sunday afternoon, topping Manhattan in four sets. The opening set was tight early. Leading 16-14, Manhattan went on a 5-0 run that appeared to have the Jaspers in control of the set. But the Broncs fought back, responding with a 6-0 run, then later tying the set at 22-22. The Jaspers were able to take the final three points of the set however to take opener. The Broncs came out firing in set two, jumping out to a 10-3 lead. The Broncs were never in danger during the remainder of the set, winning 25-18. It was more of the same for Rider in set three. Tied 1-1, the Broncs scored seven-straight points on the serve of Keegan O'Connor, including three aces. The Broncs led by as many as 13, taking the set 25-14. The momentum carried over to the fourth set, where Rider jumped out to a 13-5 lead. Leading 18-14, Pamela Loh served out the match, including a pair of aces. Morgan Romano set a career-high for the second-straight match with 35 assists as the Broncs played with a mixed-up lineup. She completed the double-double with 12 digs.
 
The 2022 MAAC Volleyball Championship takes place from November 16 through 19 at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The 10-team, single-elimination championship will feature four rounds of action with the opening round taking place on Wednesday, November 16, followed by the quarterfinals on Thursday, November 17, the semifinals on Friday, November 18, and concluding with the championship match on Saturday, November 19. For all information regarding the 2022 MAAC Volleyball Championship, please visit maacsports.com/vb.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
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