NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Powered by a season-high 11 team blocks, the Niagara University volleyball team (4-15, 2-10 MAAC) rallied from a 2-0 deficit Saturday afternoon to defeat Saint Peter’s College (11-15, 4-6 MAAC), 25-30, 25-30, 30-16, 30-22, 19-17 victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles recorded the match-winning point on a solo block by junior Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint). Boron had two solo blocks in the match to go with 52 assists, four aces and 14 digs.

Saint Peter’s got 10 kills from Serra Soylu to record the game one win. Saint Peter’s held an 18-15 lead before Soylu recorded four kills in a five-point streak to open a 23-15 lead.

The Peahens opened game two with a 9-0 run and held a 28-18 lead before the Purple Eagles rallied. Junior Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y./Notre Dame) recorded two kills as the Purple Eagles cut the lead to 28-24. Soylu then ended the game with back-to-back kills.

Niagara took a 10-3 lead in game three behind two kills each from Lawrence and classmate Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home). Niagara also used three service aces and four team blocks in the game to pick up the 30-16 win. The Purple Eagles hit .379 (12-1-29) in the game.

"We went into the locker room after the second game and changed our game plan," Niagara head coach Rocco Lucci said. "The players made a conscious decision on what they were going to do out there. They really bought into the changes and went out and executed. This match really showed we endeavored to persevere after losing the first two games. It was an intense match, a great win. A win that was a long time in coming for this team."

The teams battled throughout game four before Boron had two-straight aces to give Niagara a 25-21 lead. The Purple Eagles then took advantage of three consecutive Peahen hitting errors to coast to the win.

Saint Peter’s opened a 6-3 lead in game five before Niagara rallied to take a 10-9 lead on a Lawrence ace. Saint Peter’s then took a 13-11 lead before a kill by freshman Holly Sahner (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) and a service ace by classmate Natalie Martinez (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia) evened the score at 13-13. Soylu recorded four kills for Saint Peter’s but Rush added two kills for Niagara and two Saint Peter’s miscues allowed the teams to trade points for a 17-17 tie. Sophomore Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) recorded a kill for an 18-17 lead before Boron ended the match with her solo block.

Lawrence had a career-best eight blocks for Niagara to go with 16 kills and a .419 hitting percentage. Rush led Niagara with 17 kills and 15 digs. Sahner finished with 10 kills.

Niagara hosts Fairfield University at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in a MAAC match at the Gallagher Center.