Senior Stephanie Hopkins registered a career- and match-high 28 kills Sunday vs. Robert Morris.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior Stephanie Hopkins (Tonawanda/Sweet Home) had a career-high 28 kills to power the Niagara University volleyball team (10-5) to a 32-30, 30-19, 28-30, 19-30, 15-10 non-conference victory over Robert Morris (8-9) Sunday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles reached the 10-win mark for the first time since the 1998 season.

"I give Stephanie all of the credit today for her performance," Lucci said. "She went out there and took control from the start. You could just tell she wanted it. I think she’s been unhappy with her play recently and stepped it up. She knew there were a few local kids on the other team and she wanted to be the best on the block."

Hopkins powered the Purple Eagles to the first two game wins as she recorded 19 kills in those two games. With Niagara trailing 28-24 in the first set, Hopkins recorded five kills to give the Purple Eagles a 31-30 lead. Senior Erin Graham (Oakfield/Oakfield-Alabama) picked up a kill for the game’s final point.

With Hopkins picking up kills early and often in the second game, Niagara opened a 22-19 lead. Senior Micole Daluisio (Lancaster/Lancaster) recorded two aces to go with two Hopkins kills as the Purple Eagles scored the game’s final eight points.

Robert Morris pulled away to a 26-21 lead in game three and the Purple Eagles rallied to make it 27-26 but could not overcome the deficit. In game four, the Colonials had runs of six and eight points to pick up the win.

"In the timeout between games four and five, we asked ‘what worked well in games one and two so can get some quick points and pick up the win?’ They said ‘we should run quick middles, set high outside and see the block and use it to our advantage.’ " Niagara head coach Rocco Lucci said. "We did that and we had a few chips fall our way. We scored the first point and then ran off a few and kept rolling. They came back and tied us (8-8) but we stayed in control. We went to our strengths and capitalized."

Those strengths were the play of senior Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) and Hopkins. LeSouder, who finished with 20 kills, picked up three of those in Niagara’s first four points. The Purple Eagles’ lead eventually reached 7-3 before Robert Morris tied the game, 8-8. Sophomore Raelean Rush (Amherst/Sweet Home) and Hopkins had back-to-back kills to give Niagara the lead, 10-8. Hopkins (one) and LeSouder (two) had the next three points for Niagara before Hopkins and classmate Karen Simpson (Rochester/Gates-Chili) teamed on a block for the match’s final point.

Niagara opens Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play against Saint Peter’s in Jersey City, N.J., on Oct. 15.