Battle of the Bridge sweep gives Volleyball first conference win
By: Paige Apps, Sports Reporter
After falling to Sacred Heart and Fairfield over the weekend, Canisius volleyball earned its first Metro Conference victory of the season on Tuesday, sweeping longtime rival Niagara 3–0 on the road in the latest edition of the Battle of the Bridge.
The Golden Griffins improved to 1–2 in conference play with the confidence–boosting victory. The win marked Canisius’ 61st all–time victory over Niagara, extending the Griffs’ lead in the 118–match series to 61–55–2.
Junior Emma Isroff led the way for Canisius with a match–high 10 kills while hitting .333. The performance marked Isroff’s fourth double–digit kill effort of the season as the Hartville, Ohio native continued her strong offensive stretch where she now leads the Griffs with 107 kills on the year.
Canisius opened the match by responding to an early 6–5 deficit with a 6–1 run, sparked by back–to–back kills from Isroff and redshirt junior Julia Lenik. The Griffs maintained control from there, pulling away late for a 25–17 first–set victory.
The second set provided the tightest battle of the night, featuring 16 ties and seven lead changes. With the score tied at 24–24, a Niagara service error followed by a kill from senior Azoria Davis gave Canisius a 26–24 win and a 2–0 match advantage.
The team carried that momentum into the third set, putting together nine consecutive points midway through the frame to build a double–digit lead. Niagara attempted a late comeback, but the Griffs held on for the 25–21 victory to complete the sweep.
Isroff was part of a balanced Canisius attack, with Lenik adding nine kills and Davis contributing eight. Senior libero Brenda Reynaga recorded a team–high 11 digs while Lenik added eight.
The Griffs also produced their highest service ace total in a three–set match this season with 11 accounted for. As a team, Canisius hit .212 for the match and posted a .313 attack percentage in the second set.
The victory gives Canisius its first Metro Conference win of the season and adds another chapter to one of the longest–running rivalries in the program’s history.
The Blue and Gold will remain on the road for a two–match trip to New Jersey against Rider on Friday, Oct. 2, and Saint Peter’s on Saturday, Oct. 3.
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