Volleyball hopes to carry momentum into Metro play after first win
By Paige Apps, Sports Reporter
The Canisius volleyball team enters Metro Conference play with renewed momentum after earning its first victory of the 2026 season during the final weekend of nonconference action over Le Moyne.
The Golden Griffins opened the WNY Invitational with a 3–0 sweep of the in–state rival Dolphins last Friday at the Koessler Athletic Center, using a balanced offensive attack and strong service game to secure their first win of the season.
Canisius recorded a season–high 48 kills in the victory, with six different players recording at least six kills. Junior Emma Isroff and sophomore Alli Farmer led the Griffs with nine kills apiece, while redshirt junior Julia Lenik added eight kills and 15 digs.
The Griffs also finished the match with eight service aces from four different players and hit .230 as a team.
Canisius controlled the opening set from the start, scoring five of the first seven points before taking a 25–18 victory. The Griffs continued that momentum into the second set, building a 16–7 advantage.
Le Moyne responded with a 15–7 run to pull within one point at 23–22, but the Griffs remained composed when it mattered most. Farmer and freshman Emily Helmers recorded the final two kills of the set to give Canisius a 25–23 victory and a 2–0 lead.
The Blue and Gold completed the sweep with a 25–20 third–set victory, hitting .325 as a team in the final frame. Senior Hannah Kos led the Griffs with five kills in the set while Lenik recorded four of her kills and five digs.
Freshman setter Kenslie Warmbrodt once again continued her strong start to her collegiate career, recording 23 assists against Le Moyne. The performance marked the fourth time this season she has surpassed 20 assists in a match.
Although Canisius fell to Valparaiso, 3–1 in Saturday’s final matchup, the Griffs continued to show signs of progress heading into conference play.
Canisius responded to a difficult opening set against the Beacons by dominating the second frame, hitting .714 as a team. Farmer and Isroff each recorded five kills in the set while the Griffs held Valpo to a .154 attack percentage.
The weekend also marked a milestone for senior libero Brenda Reynaga, who reached 1,000 career digs with her third dig of Saturday’s match. Reynaga finished the contest with a match–high 19 digs and enters conference play as one of the team’s top defensive players, leading the Metro Conference and ranking ninth nationally in digs per set.
Farmer also continued her strong offensive weekend against Valpo, recording a team-high 11 kills and two service aces. Her outing marked her second match this season with at least 10 kills.
After a challenging nonconference schedule, Canisius now turns its attention to Metro Conference play with a chance to build on the progress it showed during the WNY Invitational. With its first win finally in the books, a balanced offensive attack developing and several players gaining valuable experience, the Griffs will look to carry the confidence from its nonconference finale into the start of conference competition.
The Blue and Gold will open conference action Friday, Sept. 25, when they host Sacred Heart at 6 p.m. at home before facing Fairfield on Saturday as part of the opening weekend of league play.
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