Volleyball enters final conference stretch with postseason stakes rising

By Paige Apps, Sports Reporter

The Canisius volleyball team is heading into the most pivotal stretch of the year, with the end of the MAAC regular season now in sight. 

The Griffs, now 8–4 in conference play, saw their five-match win streak snapped Tuesday night after being swept by Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara in three sets. Despite the loss, Canisius still remains in the top of the conference race, holding fourth place with six matches remaining – four of which will be played on the road.

Last weekend’s home victories over Marist and Siena kept Canisius in a strong position for postseason contention. The win over the Saints on Saturday also marked a milestone for Head Coach Tom Hanna, who earned his 50th career victory during his time as head coach at Canisius. Junior libero Brenda Reynaga added to the weekend’s highlights on Tuesday by being named the Jersey Mike’s MAAC Co-Libero of the Week prior to the midweek match.

Attention now turns to what’s ahead for the team. The Griffs are eyeing a spot in the six-team MAAC Championship, and the path is clear. A win over either Saint Peter’s or Sacred Heart would lock in Canisius’ ticket to the tournament, but the team's ambitions don’t stop there. The team is also pushing for the chance to host a first-round match on Nov. 18, the first opportunity for the team under Coach Hanna. To make that happen, Canisius must defeat Rider, their closest competitor in the standings, currently sitting in fifth place. Canisius then has to handle business against Saint Peter’s and Merrimack, two of the league’s bottom teams who sit at 11th and 10th in the MAAC, respectively.

Any additional victories, especially against top-tier opponents like Fairfield (11–2) or Quinnipiac (10–2), would boost the Griffs’ seeding heading into the postseason.

The Blue and Gold continue their final road stretch at Saint Peter’s for a spooky matchup on Friday before heading to Rider on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Madi Burton