Box Score
SCORE: Niagara 3, Quinnipiac 2 (15-25, 26-24, 24-26, 25-21, 15-11)
RECORDS: Niagara (5-13, 3-3 MAAC), Quinnipiac (14-6, 6-1 MAAC)
HAMDEN, Conn. – Buoyed by individual career-setting performances, strong defense and a relentless team spirit, the Niagara Purple Eagles defeated the Quinnipiac Bobcats in five sets to hand the hosts their first conference loss of the season.
Match Summary
- The Purple Eagles rallied twice from a set down to pull out to the win.
- After dropping the first set, NU tied the match at 1-1 in the second set which featured 14 ties and seven lead changes. Rylee Hunt's lone ace of the match claimed the second set for the Purple Eagles, 26-24.
- In the third set, Niagara led 24-22, but the Bobcats reeled off four straight points en route to take a 2-1 set lead.
- The Purple Eagles played their most efficient set of the match in the fourth set; the Purple Eagles had 18 kills and a.455 attacking percentage. Niagara closed out the set on a 5-1 run to force the fifth and deciding set.
- With the set tied at 6-6, a service error sparked a four-point run by the Purple Eagles. Leading 12-11, NU finished the match with three straight points, a kill by Nicole Matheis and two by Madison May.
Purple Points
- Nicole Matheis' career-high 27 kills are the most by a Purple Eagle since 2007. She also earned her sixth double-double of the season after having 14 digs. Â
- Alexis Gray's career-high 60 assists are the most since Nicole Bayer's program record 65 assists at Manhattan on Oct. 30, 2011.
- Madison May had 18 kills on a .351 attacking percentage. Â
- Alex Stone had 10 kills on a team season-high .526 attacking percentage.
- Freshman Emillie Wright had a career-high 17 digs, while Rylee Hunt extended her double-digit digs streak to 17 straight matches with 15 digs and added six assists. Â
- The Purple Eagles had season-highs in attacking percentage (.265), kills (70) and assists (69). Â
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Coach's Corner
- "That is no small feat to defeat a team like that on a winning streak, particularly on their home court; so much of the credit goes to our offense. Huge kudos to Nicole (Matheis), who had a spectacular match. The biggest team difference was our defense and fortitude at crunch time to pull out the result in tight situations at the end of games."Â
Up Next
- Niagara returns home next weekend for matches against Iona and Manhattan.Â
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for volleyball updates at @NiagaraVB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.Â
