SCORE: Niagara 3, Quinnipiac 1 (26-24, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19)
RECORDS: Niagara (11-16, 9-6 MAAC), Quinnipiac (19-10, 11-5 MAAC)

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team outlasted the second place Quinnipiac Bobcats in a four-set match on Saturday.

Match Summary

• The Purple Eagles and Bobcats battled throughout Saturday's four-set match, recording 30 tied scores and 15 lead changes when all said and done.
• The first set saw nine tied scores, with the largest lead being three. Alexis Gray produced 15 assists, connecting with Nicole Matheis on six of her seven kills. A kill by Caroline Leitch, followed by an attack error on Quinnipiac resulted in a 26-24 win for NU.
• In a second set that featured six tied scores and four lead changes, Niagara fell short to the Bobcats. After being down 14-8, the Purple Eagles stormed back to take the lead 18-16. Quinnipiac retaliated and never let go, ultimately taking the set 25-23.
• The Bobcats took an early miniscule lead to start the third set, with the Purple Eagles trailing no more than three up until 12-9. NU answered taking the lead at 16-15, and never looked back. They would hold on to win 25-21. Alexis Gray continued linking up with her teammates, bringing about 14 assists throughout the set.
• Set four saw the most action, in which both teams tied 11 times, with a match-high five lead changes. Niagara and Quinnipiac never held back against each other, keeping the score close until 18-17. A few kills by Alex Stone and one by Matheis to end the set 25-19 would lead the Purple Eagles to a four-set victory.

Purple Points

• Niagara improves to 10-0 all-time against Quinnipiac
• Four Purple Eagles recorded double-digit kills: Nicole Matheis (15), Caroline Leitch (15), Madison May (14) and Alex Stone (12).
• Nicole Matheis and Caroline Leitch shared match-high honors with 15 kills. Leitch's 15 kills are a career-high. Matheis also produced 10 digs, making it her 10th double-double of the season.
• Stone led the match with a.440 hitting percentage.
• Alexis Gray posted a season-high in assists through four-sets with 54.
• Libero Rylee Hunt tied a season-high with 23 digs, and Taylor Kells set a career-high with 10 digs.
• NU posted its second most assists this season with 59 against the Bobcats, as well as, its third most kills (60) and digs (65).

Record Watch

• Alexis Gray sits three service aces away from tying Tammy Greek ('93) for second all-time.
• Rylee Hunt rests five service aces away from tying Erin Graham ('05) for fifth all-time, with teammate Nicole Matheis trailing only six behind Graham as well.
• Alex Stone is 28 total blocks away from tying Greek for second all-time.

Coach's Corner

• "Today's match was closely contested, intense, and emotional, and it was some great volleyball. I was very pleased and proud of how well our squad executed in this environment. Our balanced attack is a tribute to the hitter-setter connection and the defensive intensity set up that connection." – Head Coach Vilis Ozols

Up Next

• The Niagara volleyball team will play its final home match of the season tomorrow against Fairfield at 1 p.m.

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