NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Sophomore Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) was one of three Purple Eagles who recorded a career-high total in kills but it was not enough as the Niagara University volleyball team (2-8, 0-3) suffered a 30-26, 25-30, 24-30, 30-23, 15-9 loss to Rider University (4-8, 2-1) in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Gallagher Center.

Piette picked up a match-high 21 kills while juniors Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) and Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y./Notre Dame) each had a career-best 17 kills. Rush also posted a career-high 22 digs in the match. Sophomore Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) registered a career-best 60 kills.

After dropping the first game, Piette powered the Purple Eagles in game two. She recorded seven of her kills in that game.

Behind nine kills from Rush, Niagara opened a 21-15 lead in game three and picked up the 30-24 triumph. Rush added five kills in game four, as did Lawrence, but the Purple Eagles weren’t able to answer a four-point Rider run midway in the game. Rider held a 14-13 lead before the Broncos took advantage of a service ace, a block, kill and a Niagara hitting error to open an 18-13 margin.

Rider used a five-point run to open an 8-2 lead in game five and the Broncos cruised to the win despite four kills from Piette and three from Lawrence. Rider took advantage of four blocks and six other Niagara hitting errors in that game.

Niagara returns to action Sunday for a 2 p.m. conference match vs. Loyola (Md.).