MAAC Play Beckons Canisius Volleyball After Nonconference Ends

By Paige Apps, Sports Reporter

Griffs Volleyball closed the door on their non-conference schedule with a sweep against the Le Moyne Dolphins this past Wednesday. The midweek non-conference matchup featured a strong final performance from Canisius before they enter MAAC competition in a week’s time.

The win, in many ways, encapsulates what Head Coach Tom Hanna has been pushing all preseason: consistency, growth and fine-tuning little things that matter most on the court. “I’ve hammered it home repetitively. As long as we are continually moving a little bit forward every day, every week, from when we started in August until Iona, we’ll be fine,” Hanna commented last week prior to the match against the Dolphins.

The stats from this match reflect the hard work and dedication the team has put in all throughout preseason and non-conference action. Canisius hit a season-best .339 team hitting percentage and committed just 12 attack errors, which ties for the fewest this season, while also leaning on senior leadership to carry the load.

Senior Bella Mosquera led the Griffs offensively, notching 11 kills on 21 attempts while hitting a season-best .476. Her performance, along with three service aces, sets a tone for the kind of match-winning action Canisius will look to in conference battles. Freshman Madi Cowan also posted 11 kills, showing early signs of impact on the team. Senior setter Ella Bourque brought 36 assists and matched a season-high five kills, while redshirt sophomore Julia Lenik accounted for 11 digs, significantly contributing to back row defense. These varied contributions from team members indicate a well-functioning machine that performs well on the court.

The victory over Le Moyne isn’t just a box checked in non-conference play: it’s a springboard. With the non-conference action done, the team now shifts focus to MAAC action, which starts on home court. Luckily for the Griffs, there’s a bit of a break between the two.

“I hate midweek matches, but the trade-off was we cleared it out and actually have the weekend off. Prep, ramp it down, sleep in our own bed, things like that. And now we get back to controlling the schedule and the environment,” said Hanna.

Entering conference play, the Blue and Gold have a confidence boost to help combat the tough matchups and pressure that are brought on MAAC courts. Certain matchups stand out as ones to circle: rivalries and high-energy nights that can turn into turning points.

“Niagara coming into town, senior day, mental health awareness night… those are big matches we want our fans here for,” Hanna noted, and added: “We want our home games to be events.”

After a tough non-conference schedule strictly on the road, the Golden Griffins head home to start the conference season off with a MAAC opener against Iona on Friday, Sept. 26.

Photo courtesy of GoGriffs.com