Canisius defeats Quinnipiac in Four Sets; will Face Siena in Quarterfinals
MAAC Sports
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Seventh seeded Canisius College earned a 3-1 victory over tenth seeded Quinnipiac University in the first round of the 2014 MAAC Volleyball Championship at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The Bobcats took the first set 25-22. Quinnipiac came out the gate with an early 5-2 lead before Canisius evened up the set at 6-6. The match continued to go back and forth seeing 15 ties and six lead changes before Quinnipiac took a 24-21 lead over Canisius matching its largest lead of the set since the score was 5-2. The Bobcats would close out the set on a kill from Tierra Allen that came from an assists by Cody Michaels.
The Griffs controlled the second set and evened the match at 1-1 with a 25-20 win over the Bobcats in set number two. Canisius opened the set up with a quick 5-2 lead and never trailed during the set. The Griffs held a lead as large as seven when the score was 16-9 and the Bobcats only got as close as four points late in the set.
In the third set, the set remained close early with both teams exchanging points and lead changes. With the set tied at 13-13, the Griffs would take the lead for the final time scoring on a service ace from Grace Streicher to take a 14-13 lead. Canisius would end the set on a 12-5 run to take the third set 25-18 and a 2-1 match lead.
In the fourth and final set, Canisius controlled the set jumping out to an early lead and closing out the match with a 25-10 win in the set and 3-1 victory in the match. Quinnipiac only lead in the set came early at 1-0.
Rachel Kline led Canisius with 16 kills and Katlyn Tyler recorded 15 kills. Quinnipiac was led by Allen and Cheyenne Orsi with 10 kills a piece. Emily Litwin had a match high 20 digs for the Griffs, while the Bobcats were led by Cody Michaels with 13 digs. Streicher had a match high 44 assists for Canisius.
Canisius advances to the quarterfinal round to face second seed Siena College at 5p.m. later today on the auxiliary court. Quinnipiac moves into the consolation bracket and will face the loser of Marist College and Iona College tomorrow at 11a.m. on the auxiliary court.