NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara volleyball team (5-21, 3-11 MAAC) won its first five-set match of the year with a 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 19-25, 15-7 victory over Saint Peter's (12-15, 6-7 MAAC) on Saturday at the 'Taps' Gallagher Center. Freshman setter Michelle James (Cincinnati, Ohio) was two kills shy of a triple-double.

The Purple Eagles were late starters on the afternoon, picking up just nine kills in the 25-19 first set loss. However, they dominated the second set on the offensive end.

"Our passing and communication was a complete breakdown in the first set," Niagara head coach Susan Clements said. "We turned it around by focusing on our passing and by serving tough."

Niagara collected 21 kills and attacked .341 percentage in the second set. James, who entered the set with nine assists and no kills, recorded six kills and 14 assists in the second set alone, propelling the Purple Eagles to victory.

"Michelle did a great job distributing the ball and being an offensive weapon for us," Clements added.

James finished the day with 54 assists, a match-high 18 digs and collected eight kills without an error, attacking at a .533 clip. Her 54 assists, just two off her career-high, give her 977 assists this year, a total that ranks third on the school's all-time single-season assist chart. She needs 32 assists to move into second place, and 157 to break the six-year old mark, currently held by Jennifer Hansford ('06), with four matches to play.

Freshman Hannah Hedrick (Cincinnati, Ohio) had a match-high 19 kills and 14 digs. Classmate Kathy Bibler (Bowling Green, Ohio) added 16 kills. Sophomore Lauren Costello (Webster, N.Y.) had five blocks, while Sam Morgan (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 17 digs.

The Purple Eagles host Fairfield in their final home match of the season, Sunday at 2 p.m.