By: Andrew Crooks
The Canisius Golden Griffins Volleyball team will be hosting two conference opponents after traveling to Connecticut this past weekend. With a trip to Hamden and Fairfield, Connecticut to face Quinnipiac and Fairfield the Golden Griffins ended with two losses this past weekend. First on Saturday against the Bobcats of Quinnipiac the Canisius Volleyball team lost 1-3 in the MAAC conference match. The Golden Griffins were led by senior Ella Loussia with 14 kills across the match.
Junior Alexa Albinson also contributed with 11 kills in the match on a .450 attack percentage. On Sunday they drove down to Fairfield, Connecticut to face the Stags. The Stags remained first in the MAAC as they beat the Golden Griffins in the fifth set on a score of 11-15. In the match senior Ella Loussia, sophomore Kara Zaucha, and sophomore Taylor Baldwin all finished with double digit kills on the day. Freshman Alyssa Rich had 8 digs in the match and senior Bree Long improved her total digs on the season from 369 to 382 in the match.
With her second highest assist total on the season (54) freshman Ella Bourque helped herself capture her 7th Rookie of the Week Honor in the MAAC. The Golden Griffins now stand at 9-12 on the year with a 7-5 record in conference. There are three more weekends that remain of MAAC volleyball for this team to cement themselves as a dominant team going into the tournament.
This weekend's action will include the Manhattan Jaspers on Saturday as well as the Iona Gaels on Sunday. Both games will be hosted at the Koessler Athletic Center at 12 pm here on the Canisius campus. The Jaspers come into the weekend at 1-22 overall and 1-12 in conference play this year. On October 2nd the Golden Griffins went to Manhattan College and won 3-0, making quick work of the Jaspers. The Gaels come into the weekend at 14-9 with a 9-4 record in conference play this season. On October 1st the Golden Griffin went to Iona University and lost 0-3. The Golden Griffins lost by a combined 8 points throughout the three sets keeping the Gaels close each game.
The Golden Griffins look to improve their record this weekend under Head Coach Tom Hanna in his first year taking over the job.