NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (3-11, 1-6) recorded its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory of the season Saturday afternoon with a 30-24, 30-23, 23-30, 30-27 win over Manhattan College at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles got 17 kills from sophomore middle hitter Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport). Junior Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) added 14 kills and 11 digs while freshman Holly Sahner (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollows Hills East) recorded 13 kills, five coming in the fourth game.

Niagara took advantage of six Manhattan serving errors and two kills by junior setter Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) to pick up the 30-24 game one win. Boron’s kills first tied the game, 11-11, and then gave Niagara a 13-11 lead.

In game two, Niagara opened a 4-0 lead behind kills from Sahner and Piette while Piette and senior Annie Wachob (Buffalo/Mount St. Mary’s) teamed for a block. Niagara closed the match with kills from Piette, Sahner, Wachob and Rush, respectively, for the 30-23 win.

Game three saw Manhattan open with a scoring run, taking a 3-0 lead. The Jaspers pushed the lead to 15-11 and then 23-14 before cruising to the 30-23 win.

Both teams traded scoring runs in the fourth game. Manhattan opened a 10-6 lead before Niagara ran off six-straight points for a 12-10 edge. Rush had two kills during that run. Manhattan forced a 13-13 tie and later tied the match at 17-17. The teams then traded points until Manhattan’s Sherryta Stokes recorded back-to-back kills for a 23-22 lead. The Purple Eagles then scored back-to-back points for a 24-23 lead. Niagara took a 26-24 lead on a Wachob/Piette block. Manhattan forced a 27-27 tie on a kill by Kandice Watson. Niagara then scored the game’s last three points, taking advantage of two Manhattan miscues.

Niagara returns to action Sunday with a 2 p.m. match against Iona in the Gallagher Center.