Volleyball claims season sweep of Niagara with home victory
By: Paige Apps, Sports Reporter
Canisius volleyball completed its season sweep of Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara on Tuesday, earning a 3–1 Metro Conference victory at the Koessler Athletic Center (KAC).
The Golden Griffins won by set scores of 27–25, 25–15 and 25–23 in the first, second and fourth sets respectively. The victory marked Canisius’ third consecutive win over Niagara and its first regular season series sweep of the Purple Eagles since 2022.
Junior Emma Isroff led the Griffs with 13 kills, including the final point of the match, while senior Azoria Davis and redshirt junior Julia Lenik each added a dozen kills. Redshirt freshman McKenna Corcoran recorded a program–record 10 blocks in a four–set match, helping Canisius strengthen its defensive presence at the net.
Tuesday’s victory continued a rivalry run of the season that began Sept. 29 when Canisius swept Niagara 3–0 on the road to earn its first Metro Conference win of the season. Isroff had led that effort with 10 kills while Lenik contributed nine and Davis added eight. The Griffs also recorded a season–high 11 service aces in the three–set match.
Back at home on Tuesday, Canisius faced a tougher challenge but found ways to close out the match in key moments.
The opening set featured a comeback from the Griffs, who rallied from an early deficit and tied the score at 20–20. With the set even at 25–25, consecutive kills from Davis and Lenik gave Canisius a 27–25 win.
The Griffs carried that momentum into the second set, holding Niagara to a negative hitting percentage while winning 25–15. Corcoran played a major role in the defensive effort, recording half of her team’s 16 block assists in the frame.
The Purple Eagles responded with a 25–22 win in the third set, forcing Canisius to finish the match in the fourth. Niagara took a 21–20 lead late in the frame, but the Griffs answered with four consecutive points to move ahead 24–21. After a Niagara timeout with the match on the line, the Purple Eagles closed the gap to one before Isroff delivered the decisive kill to secure the victory.
Canisius finished with 22 block assists as a team, continuing a strong defensive reputation at the net. Senior libero Brenda Reynaga added 19 digs, helping the Griffs withstand Niagara’s late push.
The win gives Canisius another rivalry victory to build on as it continues conference action. The Blue and Gold return to the KAC for a Halloween–weekend slate, hosting Saint Peter’s on Friday, Oct. 30, before a matchup against Rider on Saturday, Oct. 31.
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