NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The volleyball team (4-11, 2-4 MAAC) received solid play from both young and old in its 3-1 victory over Manhattan College (3-14, 2-4 MAAC) inside the Gallagher Center on Sunday. The usual suspects, seniors Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y.) and Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y.), received help from head coach Susan Clements’ first recruiting class for the impressive victory.

The Purple Eagles attacked at a .186 clip, their second-highest total of the season (.262 vs. St. Francis), as four players totaled double-digit kills and hit above .150 for their fourth win of the season, matching last season’s total.

"Raelean and Maurin are consistently solid for us," Clements explained, "and today we gave them the help that they needed. We did not play well (Saturday), and I told the team that they needed to look within and play like we have been practicing."

Clements felt that freshman Shannon Ryan (Fairport, N.Y.) gave the Purple Eagles an advantage against the athletic Jaspers’ squad. The first-year head coach started the versatile Ryan, and her instinct and hitting ability from the setters position proved to be a key to the win. The freshman, who played in a two-setter offense in high school, recorded career highs in kills (13) and digs (14).

Classmate Lauren Costello (Webster, N.Y.), who leads the conference with 73 blocks, totaled six stops in the win. The middle hitter also had five kills. Freshman Rebecca Suchy (Lancaster, N.Y.) also contributed to the victory, nearly matching her career-high dig total with 17.

Rush recorded her sixth-straight double-double with a match-high 20 kills and 28 digs. Lawrence chipped in with 17 kills while attacking at a match-high .294. Senior Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y.) handed out 56 assists in the MAAC win.

The Purple Eagles hit the road next weekend for a pair of MAAC matches against Siena and Marist.