SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Niagara volleyball team fell in straight sets at the Syracuse Orange by the score of 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 on Tuesday night.

NU (5-7) was competitive at unblemished Syracuse (13-0) in all three sets in its last non-conference match. However, the Orange would pull away with late spurts in each set for the win. SU scored six of the final seven points in the first set with the scored tied at 19-19. In the second set, NU was down 21-18 before the Orange scored four of the last five points and in the third set SU scored three of the final four points to clinch the match.

"We didn't play to the expectations we discussed about the match," head coach Susan Clements said. "We need to find a way to compete at a higher level to finish matches on the road."

Sophomore Kari Honomichl led the Purple Eagles in kills for the second-straight match. Honomichl's eight kills were tied for second most in the match. Fellow sophomore Amanda Wilken provided seven kills and junior Hannah Hedrick returned to the lineup and had six kills.

Junior Michelle James picked up her fourth double-double of the season with  24 assists and 10 digs. James also had a 1.000 attacking percentage (four kills, zero errors). Junior Sam Morgan kept her double-digit digs streak active to 74 matches with 11 digs on the night.

Niagara opens its MAAC portion of its schedule this weekend. The Purple Eagles travel to face the Marist Red Foxes on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a rematch of the 2009 MAAC Championship Final.