Victory weekend propels volleyball into second half of MAAC play

By Paige Apps, Sports Reporter

The Canisius volleyball team rose to 6–3 in conference play after a victorious weekend against Rider and Saint Peter’s, placing the Griffs in prime position to contend in the MAAC Championship next month.

At this point in the 2025 season, the Golden Griffins have shown genuine growth. After a strong non-conference slate that allowed the team to gel and find its identity, the team entered conference play having laid a foundation in training, chemistry and trust. Head Coach Tom Hanna has emphasized the importance of continuity and practice rhythm as the squad has worked through an up-and-down schedule. 

“We’re trying to manage workload at this point, because we’re going to go Friday and Saturday, then right into the Niagara match on Tuesday, and then go on the road for two weeks straight. I hate midweek matches. So we’re trying to manage workload now in anticipation of what it’s going to be between now and Tuesday, we’ll take Wednesday off,” explained Hanna.

That maturation shows in how the roster has responded in matches. A few players have emerged as dependable contributors, including junior libero Brenda Reynaga, who has improved her passing and defensive consistency to become one of the stronger back-row players on the team.

“Her pursuit is really good and her block cover is probably the best I’ve seen. Like, it’s scary, it’s just so intuitive and the stuff that comes back quickly that she’s able to keep alive, we might not get a swing off of it, but it’s not on the floor,” Hanna noted, “Her ability to keep things alive, her range on defense, her range on pursuing an errant ball really, really makes a difference for us.”

The second half of the conference season looms large – the tournament race is in view, and there is far less margin for error. “There’s a lot of opportunities to create separation in a perfect world, which I know I don’t live in. If we can win both matches this weekend and Niagara does the same, all of a sudden those two schools are three matches behind us. Then we get a chance to go after Niagara, can we pull them back? We still see Quinnipiac later, we’re going to have to deal with Rider down at their place. We’ve got to go to Fairfield, we’ve got to go to Sacred Heart which is a tough place to play,” Hanna pointed out.

The next three matches for the Blue and Gold will tell a lot about the rest of the season, as well as the post-season. Among the team, there’s been much open discussion about the idea of potentially hosting a quarterfinal matchup.

If the team continues to refine execution, maintain its composure in mid-week chaos and lean into its depth, the season ahead has real potential. The goal is clear: make the most of every match, protect leads, minimize slow starts and build toward the MAAC tournament with momentum. The season is far from over, and if the Golden Griffins keep progressing the way they have, the best may still be in front of them.

Canisius hosts Marist on Friday at 6 p.m. and Siena on Saturday at 2 p.m. before heading to a Battle of the Bridge matchup at Niagara on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Nowel