BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Niagara volleyball team advanced to the MAAC Championship with a thrilling five-set victory over four-time defending MAAC Champion Siena on Sunday. The No. 2 Purple Eagles will play in the championship game for the second time in school history against No. 4 Marist on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Sophomore Hannah Hedrick (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded her second career 20-20 match, and the first of the season with 21 kills and 20 digs. Freshman Kari Honomichl (Petersburg, Mich.) led NU with 22 kills and a .317 hitting percentage.

MAAC Setter of the Year Michelle James (Cincinnati, Ohio) paced the offense with 57 assists, while classmate Sam Morgan (Cincinnati, Ohio) added 18 digs in the win.

Freshman middle hitter Amanda Wilken (Cincinnati, Ohio) came up huge against a potent Saint offense which featured the nation's leader in kills, Burgandy McCurdy. Wilken contributed a career best 15 kills and a personal-best seven blocks, shutting down Siena's offense.

"It was a trememndous match and complete team effort," 2009 MAAC Coach of the year Susan Clements said. "Our ability to fight through adversity all year really paid off in this match, and we are very excited to play for the MAAC Championship."

NU cruised through the first set 25-18 and held a 14-7 advantage in the second set before the four-time defending champions mounted a comeback, taking the second set 25-22. The Purple Eagles rebounded after the intermission to take the third set 25-20.

The match then got interesting in the fourth set, as Siena jumped ahead early and looked poised to force the deciding fifth set. Niagara fought back and tied the match at 24-24 and after a back-and-forth ending to the set, Siena forced the fifth set with a 28-26 victory.

Siena brought their four-straight MAAC title experience into the fifth set, but it was Niagara that jumped out to a 6-1 lead behind five Purple Eagle kills. The Saint fought back and cut the lead to 12-10, but kills by Hedrick and Honomichl set up match point, and Wilken teamed up with junior Shannon Ryan (Fairport, N.Y.) for the block to advance to the MAAC Final.

Ryan finished the match with six kills and six blocks, while sophomore Kathy Bibler (Bowling Green, Ohio) came on strong in the final two sets with seven kills while hitting .462. The Purple Eagles totaled 10.5 blocks, which proved to be a pivotal stat. Niagara also out killed the Saints 76 to 53.

Monday's MAAC Final appearance marks the third MAAC Championship game in as many tries that Niagara has reached this fall. The Purple Eagle men's and women's soccer team also reached the league championship.