The Canisius volleyball team heads into its second-to-last weekend of competition on Saturday, as the Blue and Gold prepares for its final homestand of the 2016 campaign. The Golden Griffins have a tall order ahead of themselves on Saturday and Sunday, as the squad hosts the 2016 MAAC regular season champions, Fairfield, and the current second-place team, Quinnipiac on Sunday. Both matches are slated for 1 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN3.
Sunday will also serve as the team's senior day, as the Canisius community thanks the efforts and contributions of three of its seniors, Jacklyn Malusa, Katlyn Tyler, and Gabrielle Vetere.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Griffs had its second conference mid-week match on Wednesday, as the squad traveled up to Lewiston, N.Y., and battled Niagara for the second-half of the season series.
• Niagara bested the Blue and Gold in straight sets, (25-17, 25-23, 25-21) as the Purple Eagles swept the series and take the second point available in the Battle of the Bride volleyball segment.
• Both Jacklyn Malusa and Katlyn Tyler reached double figure kills, while Ceriani tallied her 12th double-double of the season with 29 assists and 14 digs.
ABOUT THE GRIFFS
• Canisius is 6-17 overall and 4-10 in the conference.
• Canisius has posted its best record at home this year, going 3-4 at the Koessler Athletic Center, while going 3-13 away from the Buffalo, N.Y.
• Canisius senior Katlyn Tyler leads the Griffs offense with her 3.24 kills per set average, which ranks third in the MAAC.
• Freshman setter Cassidy Ceriani ranks fifth in the MAAC with her 7.98 assists per set average. In the team's win over Manhattan Oct. 8, Ceriani was credited with 61 assists, three assists shy of setting a program record.
• Cassidy Ceriani has been crowned the MAAC rookie of the week twice this season.
SCOUTING FAIRFIELD
• The Stags enter the contest with a 22-5 record and a flawless 15-0 mark in MAAC play.
• Fairfield has lost just four sets in their 15 MAAC contests so far this season.
• The Stags come into the contest having enjoyed a 16 match winning streak dating back to Sept. 14.
• Skyler Day and Megan Theiller are ranked one and two in kills per set with both players recording over four kills per frame (4.19 and 4.04, respectively).
• Megan O'Sullivan ranks third in the conference in blocks per set, tallying just over a block per set with a 1.02 mark.
• Mallory Bechtold ranked third in the MAAC in digs per set with a 4.64 digs per frame mark.
CANISIUS – FAIRFIELD SERIES HISTORY
• Saturday marks the 41st meeting between the two teams, as Canisius trails the Stags 14-26.
• Canisius has won 3 of the last five meetings between the two squads.
• Fairfield has a slight edge in the last 10 contests, holding a 7-3 advantage.
• At home the Blue and Gold has split the last 10 contests against Farifield, going 5-5.
SCOUTING QUINNIPIAC
• The Bobcats enter the weekend with an 18-9 overall record and a 10-4 conference mark.
• Quinnipiac has won four of the last six contests.
• The Bobcats boast the second most efficient hitter in the league, with Allison Leigh reaching that height. Leigh currently sports a .326 hitting percentage with 484 total attempts.
• Freshman sensation, Maria Pansari leads the league in assists per set, as she averages 10.14 assists per frame.
• Leigh is also the highest rank blocker in the league, averaging 1.38 blocks per set.
CANISIUS – QUINNIPIAC SERIES HISTORY
• Sunday's match will be the 12th overall meeting between the two teams.
• Earlier this year the Bobcats tallied its first ever win against the Golden Griffins, as Canisius now leads 10-1.
• Canisius is undefeated against the Bobcats at home, holding a 3-0 record at the Koessler Athletic Center.
A LOOK AHEAD
The Griffs head down the homestretch of the season this weekend, finishing its home slate and heading on the road for its final contests of the season. Following this weekend, Canisius will head to Iona and Manhattan, beginning Nov. 11 and 12. Both matches are slated for 1 p.m.
