Historic night sends the volleyball Griffs to the MAAC’s final fourBy: Paige Apps, Sports Reporter

By: Paige Apps, Sports Reporter

The Canisius volleyball team enters the 2025 MAAC Volleyball Championship semifinals riding a critical stretch of momentum. The Golden Griffins advanced to the semifinal round for the second-straight season after defeating the Niagara Purple Eagles 3–1 on Tuesday at the Gallagher Center in Lewiston, N.Y.

Senior setter Ella Bourque became the program’s all-time leader in assists during the win, passing Shanon Jordan’s long-standing record when she recorded her 3,842nd career assist on Canisius’ 18th point of the fourth set. She finished the match with 48 assists, guiding a balanced offense that saw four Griffs reach double figures in kills. Sophomore Emma Isroff led the way with 16 kills, while senior Bella Mosquera and redshirt sophomore Julia Lenik each added 13. Freshman Madi Cowan contributed 10, and junior libero Brenda Reynaga posted 21 digs.

Canisius controlled the opening two sets against the Purple Eagles, hitting .517 in the first frame and using a nine-point run in the second to build a 2–0 lead. After Niagara extended the match with a third-set win, the Griffs trailed 24–19 in the fourth before closing on a seven-point run to complete a 26–24 comeback and steal the match.

Tuesday’s performance continued a stretch of strong play from Canisius following their Senior Day weekend at the Koessler Athletic Center. On Friday, the Griffs rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Merrimack 3–2 and clinch their postseason berth. During this match, Bourque handed out 59 assists to move into second place on the school’s all-time list three days prior to claiming the record against the Battle of the Bridge rival.

The Senior Day celebrations on Saturday saw Canisius push No. 2 seed Quinnipiac to five sets before falling 3–2 in the regular season finale. Cowan recorded a team-high 18 kills for the second-consecutive match, Mosquera tied her career-high nine blocks and Bourque added 49 assists. The Griffs’ performance secured the No. 5 seed entering the MAAC Championship, and Canisius ended the season 7–2 at home.

The conference recognized three Canisius players with postseason awards this week. Bourque was named to the All-MAAC First Team after a season that has so far included 1,141 assists and the league’s highest single-match total of the year with 60 against Siena on Oct. 25. Bourque was also named the MAAC Setter of the week for the third time in the 2025 season earlier this past week. Mosquera earned All-MAAC Second Team honors after leading all MAAC middle blockers in kills and recording 17 double-digit kill performances. Cowan was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Team after posting 16 matches with 10 or more kills and recording the most kills by a Canisius freshman in a match since 2017.

Alongside Bourque and Mosquera, four other players were also named to the MAAC All-Academic Team: Hannah Kos, Kalia Reisma, Perry Stevenson and Olivia Van Kooten.

Canisius now turns its attention to this Saturday’s semifinal matchup against No. 1 seeded Fairfield. The Stags won the lone regular-season meeting, but the Griffs enter the rematch with renewed momentum and an offense that has grown increasingly balanced down the stretch. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.