Senior Erin Graham had a team-high 10 kills vs. Saint Francis Saturday afternoon.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior Erin Graham (Oakfield, N.Y./Oakfield-Alabama) led the Niagara University volleyball team to a 30-28, 30-21, 30-27 non-conference victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) Saturday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. The win, Niagara’s fourth consecutive, gives the Purple Eagles a 9-5 record. The Red Flash fall to 2-14.

Graham had a team-high 10 kills to go with 12 digs. Classmate Karen Simpson (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili) had nine kills to go with eight total blocks (1 solo/7 assists).

In game one, both teams traded points until the Red Flash took an 18-14 lead after scoring seven of nine points. Saint Francis held a 26-21 lead before the Purple Eagles rallied. Simpson combined with Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) on a block before hammering down a kill to bring Niagara within two, 26-24. Saint Francis committed back-to-back hitting errors to tie the match. The Red Flash used a kill by Jamie Papini and a block by Papini and Alicia Richardson to take a 28-26 lead. LeSouder then recorded a kill to give Niagara the side-out. LeSouder and Simpson combined for another block to tie the match. Graham then pounded down a kill for a 29-28 lead before a Saint Francis hitting error gave Niagara the 30-28 victory.

Simpson recorded three-straight kills to give Niagara a 13-11 lead in game two. Already leading 14-13, Niagara then ran out to a 21-15 lead. Simpson had two more kills and two more block assists as the Purple Eagles pulled away, winning on a LeSouder kill.

Similar to the action in the first two games, both Saint Francis and Niagara traded points. The Purple Eagles opened a 19-14 lead after a block by sophomore Raelean Rush (Amherst/Sweet Home) and freshman Nicole Piette (Lockport). Saint Francis rallied to take a 26-25 lead behind three kills by Anne Roosevelt. Piette and Rush combined for another block to tie the match at 26. Saint Francis committed two errors before Graham recorded her 10th kill of the match for a 29-26 lead. After a Saint Francis point, Rush had a kill to end the game and the match.

Niagara will face Robert Morris Sunday at 1 p.m.