Sophomore Erin Graham had a match-high 24 kills Wednesday in a loss to Canisius.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (6-18, 2-3) had its two-match winning streak snapped Wednesday with a four-game loss (30-24, 30-32, 30-23, 30-24) to cross-town rival Canisius (14-11, 3-2) in front of 528 fans in the Gallagher Center.

Sophomore Erin Graham (Oakville, N.Y./Oakville Alabama) had a match-high 24 kills and 11 digs. Classmate Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) had 20 kills and senior Stacy Koslosky (Elma, N.Y./Iroquois) added 11. Defensively, Niagara was led by senior Jessica McAndrew (Ellicottville, N.Y./Ellicottville) with 18 digs and sophomore Micole Daluisio (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) added 17 digs.

Canisius had four players in double digits in kills. Kim Hoffman had 21 kills and 17 digs, Christina Wildes 18 kills and 13 digs, Mary Boller 13 kills and six blocks and Leigh Launhardt 10 kills and six blocks.

"The team that worked the hardest wins," Niagara head coach Rocco Lucci said. "The team that was the most confident won. Canisius outworked us and knew they could come back. They played great. They did what they had to do to win; they found the holes and made the plays.

"It was nice to have a good crowd. It was a great Western New York volleyball match," Lucci continued.

In game one, both teams traded points until Canisius went on a 5-2 run to lead, 25-21. Niagara responded with three of the next four points, but the Golden Griffins rallied, winning the next four points for the win.

Niagara jumped out to a 13-9 lead in game two, but let Canisius go on a 12-4 run to take the lead, 20-17. The Golden Griffins extended the lead to 24-20 before Niagara scored 12 of the next 18 points to win 32-30.

Game three had both teams battling neck-and-neck until Canisius went on a 10-1 run to finish the game.

Niagara led 10-9 in the fourth game, but six-straight Canisius points put the Golden Griffins up 14-11. At 21-16, Canisius scored seven of the next 10 points to lead 28-19. Niagara rallied with four-straight points to trail 29-23, but the Golden Griffins scored two of the next three points for the win.

Niagara returns to action Saturday when it travels to Loudonville, N.Y., to play Siena at 1 p.m. in the Alumni Recreation Center.