NEW ROCHELLE, NY - A .375 hitting percentage helped push visiting Canisius College to a 3-0 (19-25, 16-25, 12-25) victory against the Iona College volleyball team during MAAC play this afternoon inside the Hynes Center.

The Golden Griffins (5-12, 3-4 MAAC) totaled 43 kills this afternoon with just seven attacking errors committed to earn the .375 hitting percentage put forth. Sara Wesley led the match with 12 kills on a .524 hitting percentage to go along with five blocks (one solo, four assited). Cassidy Ceriani paced the offense with 32 assists to go along with four kills and nine digs. Canisius used 11.0 total team blocks to keep the Iona (7-12, 5-3 MAAC) offense to a .019 hitting percentage. 

Jamie Smith led the Gaels with nine kills in the effort to pair with nine digs. Claire Archibald also added nine digs to go with six kills while Emma Rose contributed 23 assists. Karla Johnson provided three blocks, all assisted, of the team's four blocks.

Despite six kills from Smith in the opening set, Canisius managed to score the final six points of the set to turn 19-19 tie into a six-point set win at 25-19. Leah Simmons was part of two blocks in the final six points while also adding a kill. Wesley led the visitors with five kills on eight attempts while Ceriani added 11 assists and six digs.

The Golden Griffins used another late rally to close out another victory in the second set with eight of the final 10 points with a three-point advantage already at 18-15. A .444 hitting percentage helped produce 15 kills in the frame for Canisius, compared to just nine for the Maroon & Gold. Tess Connolly accumulated five of those nine kills for Iona while three different individuals tallied three kills each for the Golden Griffins.

Five blocks in the third set from Canisius helped build a 19-7 lead in the third and final set, forcing a  -.056 hitting percentage for Iona in the game. Wesley managed three blocks, one solo and two assisted, in addition to four kills to help spark the win. Ceriani ended her afternoon with 12 assists in the set.

The Gaels quickly return to the Hynes Center on Sunday afternoon to host Niagara for a 1:00 pm conference match.