NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team staged a dramatic comeback win over the Iona Gaels, 3-2 (17-25, 25-18, 25-19, 21-25, 16-14), to claim its first-ever MAAC Regular Season Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Niagara (19-8, 14-1 MAAC) fought off four match points in the fifth and deciding set to tie the set at 14-14. Kari Honomichl had one of her team-leading 16 kills to give the Purple Eagles a 15-14 lead. The game-winning point came courtesy of an attacking error by Iona’s (15-9, 9-5 MAAC) Colleen Genett, as the Purple Eagles reeled off seven-straight points for the win.

“This match was a real test and a real team effort,” head coach Susan Clements stated. “Iona played amazing and is a very tough team. At the end of the match, we were able to find a way to win.”

The Purple Eagles had a fierce five-set battle with the Gaels, but prevailed to extend their win streak to a program-best 13 matches. Niagara will be the top seed in next’s month MAAC Tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Niagara was faced will adversity during the match; NU dropped two sets in the match and has now only lost four out of 43 sets during its win streak. The Purple Eagles stumbled out the gates to lose the first set, 25-17. Niagara rebounded well by pulling out wins in the second set (25-18) and the third set (25-19) to take a 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth set. Niagara was edged in the fourth set, 25-21, to set up the deciding fifth set.

Iona started the fifth set building a 6-2 lead and eventually had match point at 14-9, before the Purple Eagles rallied for the win.

Honomichl led Niagara with 16 kills for her second most of the season; she had the game-tying and go-ahead kills in the fifth set. Amanda Wilken had 14 kills to become the second Purple Eagle to have double-digit kills in the match. The Niagara attack also had contribution from Hannah Hedrick with nine kills, Ellen Senf with eight kills and Kathy Bibler with seven kills.

Michelle James had 46 assists and 14 digs to record her eighth double-double to tie teammate Hedrick for the team lead. Three other Purple Eagles had double-digit digs in Rebecca Suchy (12), Hedrick (15) and Sam Morgan (28) who extended her double-digit digs streak to 89 matches.

Niagara will wrap up its regular season next weekend at the Gallagher Center beginning on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. as it looks to avenge its only loss in conference play against Siena.