Nov. 8, 2009

Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist volleyball team won its program-best 10th Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match of the season on Sunday, closing out its home slate with a 3-1 (25-19, 25-18, 19-25, 30-28) win over Canisius at the McCann Center. The Red Foxes honored seniors Lindsey O'Dell (Kingwood, Texas), Dawn Jan (Belleville, N.J.), and Alexandra Schultze (Austin, Texas) prior to Sunday's match.

Schultze had 18 kills and five digs in her final match at the McCann Center. Lindsey Schmid (Austin, Texas) had 12 kills in the match, hitting .524.

Marist (16-11, 10-6 MAAC) got out to a 7-3 lead to open the match, getting two kills from Schmid and a service ace by O'Dell. The Red Foxes led 9-5 when a Michelle Godfrey kill sparked a 5-0 run for Canisius that put the Golden Griffins ahead 10-9. Marist came back from 12-10 down with kills by Foss and Leeann Harridsleff (Simi Valley, Calif.) to take a 13-12 lead. With the set tied at 17-17, Kayla Burton (Kissimmee, Fla.) put down a kill to start a three-point run to give Marist a 20-17 lead. Canisius got within one at 20-19, but the Red Foxes ended the set on a 5-0 run to win the set 25-19.

The Red Foxes kept rolling in the second set, going ahead 5-1 on two Foss kills and a couple Canisius errors. Marist grew the lead to five at 11-6 on a Schmid kill, and to seven at 14-7 after back-to-back Golden Griffins' miscues. After a Schmid kill put the Red Foxes ahead 20-12, Canisius used two Renee Lettow kills to get within five at 20-15. Marist went back up by seven at 22-15 on a block by Schmid and Harridsleff. The Red Foxes won the set 25-18 on a block by Burton and Foss to go ahead 2-0. Marist hit .361 in the second set, holding Canisius to a .135 hitting percentage.

Canisius (11-17, 8-9 MAAC) got out to a hot start in the third set, going ahead 8-3 on kills by Lettow and Samantha Good. Marist battled back with kills by Schultze and Foss to get within four at 11-7. After a Janelle Davis ace made the score 17-11, Marist went on a 4-0 run capped off with a Schultze kill to make the score 17-15. After a Red Foxes error made the score 18-15, the Golden Griffins went on a 4-0 run to go up seven, 22-15. Kaela Glenn would get Canisius the set win with an ace to give the Golden Griffins the 25-19 win.

The Golden Griffins kept the momentum to start the fourth set, taking an 8-3 lead on kills by Godfrey and Lettow, as well as a block by Good and Layne Adams. A Schultze kill would spark a 5-1 run, highlighted by two Hanna Stoiberg (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) aces, to get the Red Foxes within one at 9-8. Canisius grew its lead to four at 14-10 on a block by Davis and Godfrey. Marist came back with a 5-0 run capped off with a Brosky ace to take a 15-14 lead. The Golden Griffins then got a kill by Davis which sparked a 5-1 run for Canisius, putting them ahead 19-16.

Marist battled back, tying the set at 19-19 on a block by Jan and Burton. Canisius led 23-21 when Marist went on a three-point run to earn match point at 24-23, Godfrey and Jasmine Brennan then combined for a block to tie the set at 24-24. Canisius had two chances to force a fifth set at 26-25 and 27-26 but Marist fought off those opportunities. Marist led 28-27 after a Canisius error, but Good the put down a kill to tie the set at 28-28. Schultze then put down back-to-back kills to give Marist the set 30-28 and the match 3-1.

The Red Foxes are now two matches ahead of Loyola and Iona for the fourth and final seed in the MAAC Tournament with two matches remaining. Marist hit .295 for the match on Sunday, holding the Golden Griffins to a .203 mark. The Red Foxes also held a 63-61 edge in digs, while Canisius had a 10-5 advantage in blocks. Good led the Golden Griffins with 18 kills and also had five blocks. Lettow had a double-double of 10 kills and 17 digs, while Davis had 32 assists and 10 digs.

Marist will wrap up the 2009 regular season on the road next weekend, beginning with a match at first-place Fairfield on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m.