Griffs Volleyball off to promising 2–1 MAAC start

By Paige Apps, Sports Reporter

A busy start to MAAC play leaves the Canisius volleyball team 2–1 in conference action. After coming back from a two set deficit with a 3–2 win on Friday against the Iona Gaels, the Griffs swept Manhattan on Saturday before falling to Niagara 3–1.

“I really had the belief that we could come out 3–0 in the first three matches, which we didn’t. Obviously, getting the first two, that’s pretty good,” Head Coach Tom Hanna commented on the outcome of the weekend matches. “We’ve been a little prone to slow starts in each match, especially Iona and Niagara, just kind of digging a hole or putting ourselves in a hole that is within our control or unnecessary.”

The comeback win against Iona offered a glimpse of the team’s resilience. “When you get into a fifth set and you’re facing match points, it can break either way,” Hanna explained. “There was a point in that match where our win probability dropped to 10%. Last year, we actually won a match at 0%, and another one at under 1%… I think it’s one of those things that you will call back on later in the year and say, hey, we’ve already overcome some deficits.”

Individually, several players have made steady impacts. Brenda Reynaga, who earned MAAC Libero of the Week, has impressed with her consistency in the back row. “Her passing is getting better. I’m trying to be better about, hey, that’s pretty good,” Hanna said, “She hasn’t exceeded my expectations, but she’s maybe exceeded them a little bit.” Reynaga averaged 6.88 digs per set over the two weekend victories, and currently ranks third in the conference in digs per set.

Bella Mosquera continues to anchor the attack with reliable play. “Her consistency that she’s had in her performance now… is really impressive and is a testament to the work she put in in the off season,” Hanna noted. Setter Ella Bourque has also been praised for creating scoring chances in imperfect situations, while sophomore Olivia Van Kooten has shown progress on serve receive and defensive structure.

Much like the end of their nonconference schedule, the Griffs face the challenge of balancing rest and preparation amidst midweek matches. “We had a day off, two days of short practice, day off, and then a full week leading into Iona and Manhattan. Then it goes back to being choppy. And it’ll go back to being smooth, then it’ll go back to being choppy one more time,” Hanna said. “It’s a tough week to [make adjustments in practice] because we’re off [Wednesday]. We practice [Thursday], then we travel seven hours. So that’s one of the reasons why I don’t like midweek matches. I like continuity. I like four days of training and we don’t get that this week.”

If changes in practice are to be made, this week is not the week to do so. After the upcoming weekend lineup against Quinnipiac and Merrimack, the team will reevaluate. “I think if there’s going to be any big movement, it would probably be next Monday and Tuesday. Hey, we take this for a test drive, do we like how this car drives? And we still have time to correct course. So if we like it, then we can just keep increasing it on Wednesday and Thursday, we get a full training week,” Hanna explained.

On Friday, Canisius faces Quinnipiac, one of the MAAC’s most formidable teams. The key focus for the Griffs in this matchup is to target the pain points in the Bobcats’ system, not that there are many to begin with. “Quinnipiac is good: big, physical,” commented Hanna. “The player of the year right now is about five kills a set. She’s playing ridiculously well… They’ve got size, they’ve got experience. We’re still a group where half the people have been here for a month, two months I guess by the time we play the matches… they’ve got two reigning players of the year on their roster. 12 of the 14 are international kids from six different countries, and they can play.”

Quinnipiac finished the 2024 season in second, right behind Fairfield. Going into week two of conference play in the 2025 season, Quinnipiac sits tied with Canisius 2–1 along with Marist. Merrimack sits tied with Iona and Siena with a conference record of 1–2.

The Griffs hit the road to Connecticut on Friday before continuing to Massachusetts to face Merrimack on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Tom Wolf