NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara volleyball team dropped its final two matches in the Niagara/Canisius Invitational on Saturday from the Gallagher Center. The Purple Eagles fell to the Indiana Hoosiers, 3-0 (25-18, 25-9, 25-15), and to the Colgate Raiders in five sets, 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-11).

Niagara (5-6) finished the invitational with a 1-2 mark. Junior setter Michelle James was named to the all-tournament team and her 49 assists against Colgate were her second most this season.

“Playing in this tournament was great competition for us," head coach Susan Clements said.  "It is tough during the non-conference season to stay at a high level, but we finished strong against some great teams and it will help us prepare for conference season.”

Niagara 0, Indiana 3

Niagara fell in straight sets against the unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers (10-0), who went 4-0 in the invitational. Kari Honomichl led the Purple Eagles with nine kills and Sam Morgan collected 10 digs. Indiana's Ashley Benson, who represented the Hoosiers on the all-tournament team, had 17 kills to lead the match.

Niagara 2, Colgate 3

The Purple Eagles battled from a set down, and then evenutally was forced into the final set, before dropping a 3-2 decision against Colgate (5-5). Niagara was playing without MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Hannah Hedrick for the first time this season.

NU dropped the first set 25-20, despite sprinting to a 7-1 lead. The Purple Eagles took the next two sets with identical 25-20 scores. The Raiders responded with their best hitting percentage (.367) of the match and won the fourth set, 25-15. In the fifth set, a kill from Honomichl tied the match at 10-10, but Colgate would score five of the last six points in the match for the win.

Honomichl shined in Hedrick's absence with a season-high 21 kills to lead the match; Amanda Wilken, Kathy Bibler and Ellen Senf each had nine kills.  Four Purple Eagles had double-digit digs. Morgan's 17 digs extended her double-digit digs streak to 73 matches, James (17), Rebecca Suchy (15) and Honomichl (11) all had season-high digs.

Niagara will play at the Syracuse Orange on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

Niagara/Canisius Invitational All-Tournament Team
Bucknell -- Ragin Jackson
Canisius -- Emily Elek
Colgate -- Casey Ritt
Indiana -- Ashley Benson
Niagara -- Michelle James
Robert Morris -- Amanda Graham