Sophomore Michelle LeSouder had a team-high eight kills vs. Manhattan Saturday afternoon.

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (4-15, 0-1) lost its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener with a three-game loss (30-15, 30-19, 30-17) to Manhattan (7-10, 2-0) Saturday afternoon in Draddy Gym on the Manhattan campus.

"Manhattan proved why they are the best in the conference. They are a very solid team," Niagara head coach Rocco Lucci said. "They could out-match us girl for girl today. Our serve receive broke down so we couldn’t run anything."

The Purple Eagles managed only 19 kills in the match and hit .000. Conversely, the Lady Jaspers hit an impressive .375 with 47 kills.

Niagara was led offensively by sophomore outside hitter Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) who had a team-high eight kills. Classmate Micole Daluisio (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) had a team-high seven digs.

Manhattan’s Goedel Van Cauteren had a match-high 12 kills, 23 assists and six digs.

The Purple Eagles were never really in the match as the Lady Jaspers never trailed in the match. Manhattan put together a 15-4 run in the first game and then ended the second game with a 9-4 run. In game three, the Lady Jaspers jumped out to a 10-3 lead and never trailed the rest of the game.

Niagara returns to action Sunday when it plays St. Peter’s at 1 p.m. in the Yanitelli Center on the St. Peter’s campus.