NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The electric atmosphere that filled the legendary ‘Taps’ Gallagher Center after the volleyball team (2-8, 0-1 MAAC) held a two games to one advantage over Loyola College (7-6, 1-0 MAAC) slowly slipped away as the Greyhounds stormed back to win a five-set thriller, Saturday, 26-30, 30-24, 20-30, 30-26, 15-9. The loss marked the second-straight time that the Purple Eagles lost their MAAC season opener.

Three Purple Eagles posted double-digit kill numbers, led by junior Nicole Piette’s (Lockport, N.Y.) 18 winners. Senior Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y.) and Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y.) recorded 16 and 10 kills, respectively. Rush turned in one of her best performances of the season against Loyola with a double-double of 16 kills and 23 digs while posting a team-high .216 hitting percentage.

Freshman Lauren Costello (Webster, N.Y.), the MAAC’s leading blocker, set a career high with eight blocks in the loss.

The Purple Eagles used a 13-4 run behind the serving of freshman Rebecca Suchy (Lancaster, N.Y.) to claim the third set. The outside hitter rattled off seven-straight points advancing the Niagara lead from two to nine.

After the explosive run, Niagara’s momentum slipped away thanks to too many unforced errors. The Purple Eagles committed 17 service errors in the loss.

"Missed opportunities and miscues definitely cost us today," head coach Susan Clements said. "We have seen improvement from every player everyday, and it is just a matter of time before all of the pieces fall together."

Senior Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y.) dished out 47 assists in the loss.

The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center in search of their first MAAC win Sunday against Rider University at noon.