Box Score SCORE: Niagara 2, Marist 3 (27-29, 16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-9)
RECORDS: Niagara (9-15, 7-5 MAAC), Marist (10-14, 9-4 MAAC)

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles had their eight-match home winning streak come to an end in a five-set thriller to the Marist Red Foxes on Saturday.

Match Summary

• The Purple Eagles looked well on their way to defeating the Red Foxes after winning the first two sets.
• NU outlasted Marist in the first set, which featured 16 ties and seven lead changes. The Purple Eagles staved off set point three times, before scoring three straight points to close out the set 29-27.
• Niagara controlled the entire second set powered behind a match-best .440 hitting percentage and 82 sideout percent.
• The Purple Eagles opened the third set with a 5-0 lead; however, the Red Foxes chipped back into the set to eventually retake the lead at 16-15. From there, Marist pulled away for a 25-21 set win.
• The Red Foxes tied the match by taking the fourth set. With the score tied at 13-13, Marist scored six of the next nine points to seize momentum.
• In the deciding set, Marist jumped out a 6-0 lead before Niagara battled back to tie up the set at 8-8. However, the Red Foxes closed the match on a 7-1 run.

Purple Points

• NU suffered its first home defeat since October 24, 2015.
• Two Purple Eagles had double-doubles in the match. Alexis Gray had 32 assists and 10 digs for her team-leading 10th double-double of the season and Nicole Matheis had 12 kills and 12 digs for her eighth of the season.
• Madison May shared team-high honors with 12 kills.
• Rylee Hunt had a match-high 19 digs for her 23rd straight double-double digs match.

Coach's Corner

• "Today was a game of momentum with our squad executing at a very high level through the first two and a half games of the match.  Marist, then, seized the momentum and executed very well to close out the match." – Head coach Vilis Ozols

Up Next

• Niagara continues its five-match homestand on Sunday against Siena at 1 p.m.

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