Senior Stephanie Hopkins had a match-high 22 kills in a loss at Buffalo Tuesday. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Senior Stephanie Hopkins (Tonawanda, N.Y./Sweet Home) registered a match-high 19 kills but it wasn’t enough as the Niagara University volleyball team (5-2) had its five-match winning streak snapped with a four-game match, 30-28, 25-30, 23-30, 23-30, Tuesday evening to the University of Buffalo (5-4) in Alumni Arena.
In addition to her kills, Hopkins had a match-high four aces and was three digs off her career high, registering 18 vs. the Bulls. Senior Micole Daluisio (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) had a match-high 22 digs and became Niagara’s career leader in digs with 1,420. Also in double figures in kills were seniors Michelle LeSouder (Stratford, Ont.) and Karen Simpson (Rochester, N.Y.) with 14 and 12, respectively.
In game one, Niagara trailed by six, 25-19, before putting together a 9-5 run to win its first game over Buffalo since the 2002 season. Sophomore Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) collected two kills and a block assist, Hopkins three kills and LeSouder two kills during the run.
Niagara took an early lead in game two, 6-1, but the Bulls stayed within four points until 23-20 when they went on a 10-2 run for the win.
The Purple Eagles struggled offensively in game three, hitting only .093. LeSouder capped a 5-1 run late in the game to pull within 23-20 of Buffalo, but the Bulls got a kill and two aces from Katie Weekley during a 5-1 run of their own to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
In game four, Niagara was again unable to establish a consistent attack and played more defense than offense. After a both teams traded points early in the game, Buffalo used a 9-1 run to take a 23-15 lead. Niagara came back with a 5-2 run to make it a 25-20 game, but the Bulls collected its final five points for the match.
Game Notes:
- LeSouder went over the 1,400 kill mark and now has 1,418.
- Senior Erin Graham (Oakville, N.Y.) moved into second place on the Niagara career kills list with 1,134.
- Graham moved into eighth on the career digs list with 949.
