Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team continued its superb form with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-21) victory over the Loyola Greyhounds on Saturday in the annual “Dig Pink” match. The Purple Eagles remain unblemished in conference matches this season while extending their win streak versus MAAC teams to 27 matches.

“Today was a win we needed to continue our momentum,” said head coach Susan Clements, who saw her team win its 21st straight home conference match. 

The Purple Eagles (15-7, 8-0 MAAC) defensive scheme caused Loyola (6-15, 3-5 MAAC) problems all day. Loyola’s -.023 hitting percentage was the second time this season that Niagara has held an opponent in negative hitting percentage (Saint Peter’s).  While the Greyhounds struggled to muster any offense, NU was steady and efficient with its chances.

In the opening set, Niagara used a 7-2 run midway through the set to brush off a slow start en route to claiming the set, 25-17. In the second set, the Purple Eagles rolled to a 25-14 win behind .440 hitting (11 kills and zero errors). 

“We switched a few things and it seemed to help our offense sideout with efficiency,” Clements said.

The Greyhounds showed some resistance in the third set, but 10 Loyola errors and 11 combined kills from Hannah Hedrick, Kari Honomichl and Kathy Bibler were enough for NU to pull out its seventh straight win in the series.

Hedrick was the lone player to record double-digit kills in the match with 11 and recorded her team-leading 11th double-double with 11 digs, which tied a match-high with classmate Sam Morgan.

Niagara welcomes Rider to the Gallagher Center on Sunday at 2 p.m. as it looks to build on the nation’s 10th longest home win streak.