SCORE: Buffalo 1, Niagara 3 (25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 25-20)
RECORDS: Buffalo (0-10), Niagara (2-10)

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University volleyball team opened its home slate with an emphatic four-set win over local rival the Buffalo Bulls on Tuesday night.  

Match Summary

• The Purple Eagles commanded the first two sets on their way to a 2-0 lead.
• In the first set, Niagara broke a 17-17 tie with three straight points: a kill by Nicole Matheis and consecutive aces by Emillie Wright. NU won the set on a kill by Caroline Leitch.
• After trailing 3-2 early in the second set, Niagara recovered answered with a 9-1 run on its way to winning the set, 25-21 behind a match-best .323 hitting percentage.
• After losing the first two sets, Buffalo came back strong to control all of the third set; Niagara climbed back from a 20-13 deficit, but the Bulls held on winning 25-23.
• In an exciting fourth set with three lead changes and six ties, the Purple Eagles persevere to pull out the win. Leading 19-17, a kill by Alex Stone built a three-point advantage in which UB was unable to get any closer.

Purple Points

• This marks the third ever win in program history against the Bulls and the first win since 2008.
• Junior Nicole Matheis led the match with 17 kills, and was third on the team in digs with eight. Matheis also logged 18.5 points for the second highest points by a Purple Eagle this season.
• Rylee Hunt had a match-high and season-high of 23 digs. Junior Alexis Gray also posted a match-best of 42 assists, to go along with 14 digs for her team-leading fourth double-double of the season.
• Senior Alex Stone's .550 hitting percentage is the highest by a Purple Eagle since 2014.
• The Purple Eagles tied their season-high of 60 kills.
• The Purple Eagles had four players with double digit kills: Matheis (17), Stone (13), Leitch (12), and May (11)
• Niagara's .231 hitting percentage is the second highest of the season. NU had a .233 hitting percentage at Cal State Fullerton (Niagara won).

Coach's Corner

• I thought that was a complete team win. It was nice to see our offense come together with a really balanced attack. Alex Stone stood out offensively and against such a physical team that's really saying something. Our defense was spectacular and tonight we showed the character of who we need to be: a very strong defensive team, a very strong serving team and a very forceful attacking team. – Vilis Ozols 

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles start MAAC play this weekend at Siena on Saturday and Marist on Sunday.

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