LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Junior Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) registered a career-high 23 kills, but the Niagara University volleyball team (3-15, 1-10) still lost 30-22, 29-31, 24-30, 23-30 to Rider University (7-11, 5-4) Sunday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at Alumni Gym.

In addition to her kills, Rush also posted 24 digs for her fourth consecutive double-double and fifth 20-dig match of the season. Freshman Holly Sahner (Dix Hills, N.Y.) had 14 kills and hit .297 while junior Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y.) collected 11 kills.

Defensively, junior Sara Mancini (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) dug a personal-best 31 attacks, senior Jessica Piscitelli (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) had 17 digs and junior Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) had 10 digs and 51 assists.

Niagara returns to action Oct. 21 when it hosts Saint Peter’s at 2 p.m. in the legendary Taps Gallagher Center.