Canisius Volleyball shows glimpses of promise amidst early tests in MAAC play

By: Paige Apps, Sports Reporter

Canisius opened the MAAC schedule with momentum and optimism, but recently endured back-to-back conference road losses at Quinnipiac and Merrimack this past weekend. While the results did not go the Griffs’ way, there is still reason for optimism in what the team is building.

At Quinnipiac, the team battled hard but fell in four sets. Canisius won the opening set before the Bobcats answered with three straight to clinch the match. The Griffs were competitive in each frame, with contributions across the roster, but ultimately couldn’t halt Quinnipiac’s run.

The next night at Merrimack, the Griffs pushed the Warriors to the limit, but dropped a tight five-set decision. After jumping out to a 2–0 lead, Canisius saw Merrimack fight back to force a deciding set. In that final stanza, momentum slipped away late, and the Warriors closed out a comeback win.

Though the schedule shows two losses, these contests allowed the Blue and Gold to test their resilience against upper-tier conference competition and reveal areas of strength and growth. Across both matches, senior Bella Mosquera maintained her knack for double-digit kill performances, while veteran setter Ella Bourque ran the offense with composure under pressure. Junior libero Brenda Reynaga also stood out defensively at Merrimack, logging 28 digs in her best showing yet. Meanwhile, newer faces are stepping into larger roles. Redshirt sophomore Julia Lenik, freshman Madi Cowan and sophomore Olivia Van Kooten have each delivered meaningful attacking, passing or defensive work even in the losses.

One of the positive takeaways is how close these matches were. The Griffs held leads, stayed competitive in late rallies and responded under pressure – all signs of a program learning to fight through adversity. These experiences, while tough, are often the ones that strengthen a team midseason.

Looking ahead, Canisius has valuable opportunities to rebound and realign. The team’s conference record remains salvageable, and the depth and versatility across the roster suggest that adjustments and growth can build momentum in the coming weeks. The imperfect situations –  those plays where the offense must manufacture points – will become key battlegrounds, and the team has already shown flashes of effective execution in those moments.

The team also benefits from their upcoming schedule, as they return home after their road stretch at Manhattan on Friday and Iona on Saturday. The last time Canisius faced these teams on Sept. 26-27, the team swept the Jaspers in three sets and accomplished a reverse sweep over the Gaels in five sets.

Photo Courtesy of Tom Wolf