Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara volleyball team completed its second straight weekend sweep as they defeated Canisius in three sets at the Gallagher Center.
First Set
Niagara picked up where they left off on Saturday as they started on a 7-1 run in the opening set. The Purple Eagles had a 16-9 lead after 25 points in the set. Niagara then took nine of the next 11 points as they won the opening set 25-11.
In the opening set, four Purple Eagles notched a kill with Cassie Seminoff and Jenna Vogen each having four kills. Lexi Bapst had three kills while Laryssa Imbuzeiro added one kill. Kylie Blessing earned the start at setter and had eight assists in the opening set. Niagara had five blocks in the opening set with Janiah Robinson leading the way with four block assists. Bapst had three block assists while Payton Lee, Imbuzeiro, and Vogen all had one block assist.
Second Set
The Griffs responded to start the second set as they were the ones who took a 6-1 lead to start the set. Niagara quickly responded and tied the set at 10 and then took the 11-10 lead on a block from Robinson and Lee. Niagara held the Griffs to just five more points in the set as they went on a 15-5 run and took the set 25-15. The score was tied just once in the set while the lead changed just once.
Niagara hit .295 in the second set as they had 15 kills from five different Purple Eagles. Both Lee and Seminoff had five kills while Imbuzeiro had three. Both Vogen and Bapst added one kill in the set. Niagara had four blocks in the set with Robinson having one solo block and two block assists. Vogen, Imbuzeiro, Seminoff, and Lee all also had a block assist. The Purple Eagles had 22 digs in the set with nine different players tallying a dig. Bella Peroni had a team-high six digs while Seminoff had five. Lee, Imbuzeiro, and Casey Brown all had multiple digs.
Third Set
The third set was the most back and forth set of the day as there was three lead changes and the score was tied six times. The two teams were tied at four early in the set and then one again at six through 12 points. Following the 6-6 tie, Niagara took a 10-7 lead, Canisius responded and tied the set at 11, that would be the last time the set would be tied. Niagara went on a 9-1 run to make it 20-12 and the Purple Eagles did not look back as they took the third set 25-17.
Niagara had 17 kills in the third set while they limited Canisius to just seven. Vogen led the team with five kills in the set which was also a set high. Lee, Bapst, and Imbuzeiro all had three kills while Seminoff had two and Robinson added one. Blessing had a match high 10 assists while also having five digs. Niagara made just one reception error in the set as both Peroni and Bapst have seven receptions. Bapst also had a set high seven digs in the set.
Niagara Notes
· It was the 113th match between the Griffs and Purple Eagles, Niagara is now 53-58-2 against the Griffs dating back to 1975. Dating back to 2003, Niagara is 23-20 against Niagara and 13-8 at home.
· The Purple Eagles picked up a total of two points in the annual Battle of the Bridge for the academic year 2023-24, Niagara leads 2-0 following the weekend.
· Seminoff had a team high 11 kills and now has double digit kills in four straight matches. Vogen had 10 kills in the match, she has double digit kills in three matches this season.
· Blessing set a new career high in assists as she had 22 assists. Her previous high was 19 that was set against Iona on Sept. 23.
· Robinson had seven total blocks with one solo and six assists, she tied her career high of seven that was set against Manhattan on Sept. 24.
· As a team, Niagara leads the MAAC in blocks per set as they are averaging 2.35 blocks per set. Overall, they have 115 blocks, which is third in the MAAC.
· The Purple Eagles allowed just one ace against Canisius; Niagara is tops in the MAAC in opponent service aces as they allowing just 1.22 aces per set.
· Imbuzeiro had two block assists and leads the MAAC with 1.29 blocks per set. She has 63 total blocks which also leads the MAAC.
· Peronio is second in the MAAC in digs as she had nine against Canisius. She averages 3.84 per set, her 188 digs is third in the MAAC.
· The Purple Eagles have won four straight matches. It is the longest winning streak since the 2021 season when they won four games spanning from Sept. 11-25.
· Niagara is 4-1 this season at home and 4-2 in MAAC play.
· It is the first time since the 2016 season that Niagara has swept Canisius in the regular season.
Up Next
Niagara heads back on the road next weekend as they travel to New Jesey to face Rider on Oct. 7 and Saint Peter's on Oct. 8. Both matches are scheduled for 1 PM.
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