Sophomore Erin Graham had a match-high 23 kills Saturday in a win over Loyola.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (6-17, 2-2) won its second-straight match of the weekend with a four-game (30-27, 24-30, 30-24, 30-22) decision over Loyola (2-19, 1-1) Saturday afternoon in the Gallagher Center.

"Our blocking was a lot better today - that is what kept us in the match," Niagara head coach Rocco Lucci said. "We didn’t stop playing after we got down early. Loyola played really, really good defense. We had a hard time finding holes on the court. After we would make a mistake, we’d correct it on the next play."

The Purple Eagles were led offensively by sophomore Erin Graham (Oakville, N.Y./Oakville Alabama) who had 23 kills. Classmate Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) had 20 kills and seniors Stacy Koslosky (Elma, N.Y./Iroquois) and Valerie Arnone (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca) added 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

Defensively, Niagara had four players register double digits in digs. Sophomore Micole Daluisio (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) had a team-high 18 digs, freshman Jessica Piscitelli (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) had 14 digs, senior Jessica McAndrew (Ellicottville, N.Y./Ellicottville Central) had 13 digs and sophomore setter Jennifer Hansford (Stratford, Ont.) had a double-double with 56 assists and 11 digs.

Game one was tight as the teams traded points until Niagara put together a six-point run to take a 22-20 lead. The Purple Eagles then scored eight of the next 15 points for the win.

Niagara trailed in game two when Loyola strung together points on 11 of 15 plays to lead 20-15. The Purple Eagles cut it to 22-18 before the Greyhounds scored four-straight points to lead 25-18. Niagara came within four points, 28-24, but Loyola capitalized on two errors by the Purple Eagles to win the second game.

Game three was one of streaks. Niagara raced out to a 14-8 lead with a pair of four- and six-point runs. Loyola responded with a run of its own to draw within two, 18-16. The Purple Eagles then went on an 8-2 run to lead 25-19. The Greyhounds once again responded with five-straight points to pull within three, 26-23. Niagara finished the game with a 4-1 run.

Loyola came out strong in the fourth game, taking a 9-3 lead and then a 12-5 lead. But Niagara worked the score to 14-10 and 16-14 before exploding for a 6-2 run to take a 20-19 lead. The Purple Eagles closed the game and match by scoring seven of the last eight points.

Niagara is off next week and returns to action when it hosts cross-town rival Canisius Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Gallagher Center. Admission is free.