NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit, but eventually fell 3-2 (28-26, 25-18, 19-25, 22-25, 15-13) to the Binghamton Bearcats on Wednesday night at the Gallagher Center.

Niagara (4-4) stormed its way back into the match after dropping the first two set. Binghamton (2-5) took the first set, 28-26, in a tightly contested opening set and was paced with a .552 hitting percentage to take the second set, 25-18.

The Purple Eagles used an 8-0 run with the scored tied at 10-10 en route to winning the third set, 25-19. NU's .433 attacking percentage was a set high for them in the match. In the fourth set, kills from Michelle James and Hannah Hedrick put Niagara within one point of claiming set.  Ellen Senf's kill won the set for NU, 25-22, and forced the fifth and final set.

NU started the final set taking a 3-0 lead, but the Bearcats responded by going on a 5-0 run. A service ace by Rebecca Suchy gave NU a 13-11 lead, however, back-to-back kills by Binghamton's Anna Lejina tied the score. The match ended in favor for Binghamton after consecutive errors by Sam Morgan and Amanda Wilken gave the Bearcats a 15-13 fifth set win.

Hedrick recorded her fifth double-double of the season, leading the team with 16 kills and also provided 10 digs. James picked up her second double-double of the season with 44 assists and 11 digs. Morgan's NCAA-best double-digit streak moves up to 70 matches after pulling in 23 digs.

Niagara is back on the court this weekend when its host the Niagara/Canisius Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Purple Eagles open their slate of the invitational against Bucknell on 7 p.m. in a leukemia awareness theme night.