PHILADELPHIA – The Niagara volleyball team wrapped up its participation at the La Salle Invitational by splitting a pair of matches on Saturday. The Purple Eagles eased past La Salle 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-10) in their first match of the day, but fell to the Valparaiso Crusaders 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20) in the championship match.

Niagara 3, La Salle 0

Niagara cruised to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-10) win over La Salle (0-3) to improve its record to 2-0 for only the second time in school history. The first time was last season when Niagara started the season 3-0 after winning the Niagara Invitational at the Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles dominated the entire match. Niagara had a .287 to .009 attacking percentage for the entire match, including a .481 to -.071 in the third set. NU defense was strong as well, racking up 56 digs and six blocks.

“Our defense was much better today," head coach Susan Clements said. "We were able to utilize our height advantage and won the long rallies.”

Sophomore Amanda Wilken had a game-high 10 kills and was followed by juniors Kathy Bibler and  Hannah Hedrick who each had nine kills. Junior setter Michelle James had 32 assists, while junior Sam Morgan and senior Rebecca Suchy had 22 and 11 digs, respectively.

The win set up a championship match against Valparaiso.

Niagara 1, Valparaiso 3

The Purple Eagles fought back to win the first set, but were unable to hold off a scrappy Valparaiso team in the La Salle Invitational Championship match.

NU overcame a slow start in the opening set to take the first set, 25-19. Downed 6-8, Niagara used a 9-4 run to seize momentum. The Purple Eagles were powered by freshman Ellen Senf and Hedrick who combined for nine kills, and James who dished out 11 assists. NU had a .217 to .041 hitting percentage advantage in the set.

Niagara (2-1) and Valpo (3-1) traded points in a tightly contested second set which featured 12 ties and seven lead changes. A kill from Sophomore Kari Honomichl and an attacking error by Valpo put Niagara up 23-21. However, the Crusaders would score the final four points in the set to even the match at 1-1.

In the third set, NU fell behind early and despite a late rally, dropped the set 25-19 to trail in the match 2-1 heading into the fourth set.  The fourth set was another back-and-forth battle. A kill by Bibler gave Niagara a 19-16 lead, but Valparaiso went on a 7-0 run to take a 23-19 lead en route to winning the set 25-20 to win the match.

“Valpo was a great test for us,” Clements said. “Our blocking and passing broke down, but we can use this loss to improve and prepare for our tough match against UB.”

Hedrick notched a double-double with 12 kills and 24 digs. Wilken led the team with 14 kills on .270 hitting percentage and 15 points. James recorded her third-straight 30-plus assists match with 39 and Morgan extended her double-digit digs streak to 65 with 30 digs; five Purple Eagles had double-digit digs.

James and Morgan represented Niagara on the La Salle Invitational All-Tournament Team.  

Niagara’s next game will be its home opener against archrival Buffalo on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Niagara will have its NCAA Tournament banner unveiling ceremony before the match.