Senior Erin Graham

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Niagara University senior Erin Graham (Oakfield, N.Y./Oakfield-Alabama) made the most of her nine kills during Saturday’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference volleyball match against Rider University (10-19, 2-7) at the Gallagher Center. Graham recorded four of those kills as Niagara rebounded from a 23-21 game four deficit to power the Purple Eagles to a 30-23, 30-25, 26-30, 30-26 victory over the Broncs.

The Purple Eagles, now 15-9 overall and 5-3 in the MAAC, play Loyola Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Gallagher Center.

Senior Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) had a team-high 18 kills for Niagara. LeSouder recorded 10 of those kills in the fourth game. Classmate Stephanie Hopkins (Tonawanda/Sweet Home) added 14 kills and 17 digs. Senior Micole Daluisio (Lancaster/Lancaster) and Graham recorded 17 and 13 digs, respectively.

Both teams traded scoring runs in the first two games, but Niagara was able to hang on for the wins.

Rider used a six-point run for a 12-8 lead before the Purple Eagles came back with a six-point run of their own in the see-saw third game. Both teams traded runs before Rider took a 24-23 lead. The Broncs stretched their lead to 26-23 but Niagara cut the lead to one, 26-25, on a Hopkins’ kill. Rider then used three kills and an ace for the victory.

"Their team ran a different offensive set than it has all year and it took us a little while to adjust and see what was going on," Niagara head coach Rocco Lucci said, noting Rider’s Embrey Minor suffered a shoulder injury Friday night against Canisius. "Being aggressive allowed us to score points and win. You can’t score if you’re not aggressive on the ball. That’s what we needed. Erin and Michelle were really aggressive; they just went out and ripped balls."