NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team extended its program-best win streak to 14 matches with a five set (24-26,25-13,20-25,26-28,15-7) victory over the Siena Saints on Saturday at the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles set a program-best with 15 conference wins. 

“Despite our lack of intensity we were able to serve aggressively and come out on top in the fifth set,” head coach Susan Clements said.

Before the match, junior setter Michelle James was honored for becoming the school all-time career assists leader. James broke Jennifer Hansord’s (’05) record of 3,289 and currently has 3,347 in her career.

Niagara (20-8, 15-1 MAAC) needed five sets to avenge its only conference loss of the season. NU fell at Siena (6-19, 5-10 MAAC) on September 19, but have won 14 straight matches since. Niagara appeared on its way to its 16th straight set win of the season.

Back-to-back kills from Kathy Bibler and Hannah Hedrick closed out the first set in favor of the Purple Eagles, 26-24. In the second set, the Purple Eagles sprinted to an early lead en route to winning the set, 25-13. Siena had its best hitting percentage (.256) in the third set and held off a Purple Eagles rally to win the set, 25-20. NU had the match in its grasps in the fourth set. Hedrick had one of her three blocks in the match to give NU a 24-22 lead, but the Saints came back to tie the score at 26-26 and eventually won 28-26 to force the final set.

The Purple Eagles saved their best work for the final set. Niagara had a .455 hitting percentage (10 kills, zero errors) and took control early for a 15-7 outcome.

Hedrick and James each had their ninth double-double of the season. Hedrick had a team-high 17 kills and 15 digs, while James had a match-high 48 assists and 11 digs. Amanda Wilken had 15 kills and five block assists and had contribution from Kari Homonichl (11 kills) and Ellen Senf (9 kills).

Niagara had a match season-high with 12 team blocks and Sam Morgan had 23 digs to bring her double-digit digs streak to 90 matches. Niagara set a program-best with 15 conference wins, breaking the record of 14 wins which was set last season.

The Purple Eagles will host the Marist Red Foxes at 2 p.m. in their final home match of the season. Three seniors will be honored before the match.