Box Score 

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team edged in-state foe Syracuse in a five-set thriller (25-19, 19-25, 25-27, 26-24, 16-14) in the second annual Block Blood Cancers match on Sunday.

Today’s annual event was a duel partnership between both programs and the Western and Central New York Leukemia & Lymphoma Societies (LLS). A commemorative t-shirt was sold at the game and is available at PurpleEaglesStore.com; all donations from today’s match and t-shirt sales will benefit the LLS.

The event was spearheaded by head coach Susan Clements who lost her father, Don Clements, to AML leukemia last October. The victory was special and historic for the fifth-year head coach. Clements’ 71st career win surpasses Barb Green for most wins in program history.

“Personally, it was emotional but the team was with me through it last year so they understood that this was important.” Clements said. “The main thing about this match was we talked about a significant win all season and this was a significant win for us, to beat a Big East team. It was wonderful that Syracuse was willing to come here and be a part of the event.”

Niagara (9-7) accomplished another program first, while extending its home winning streak to 11 matches, which ranks ninth longest in the nation. The Purple Eagles picked up their first win over Syracuse (9-6) in 15 attempts (1-14). NU came close to beating the Orange in the last meeting at the Gallagher Center when it fell in five sets on Sept. 1, 2009.

The Purple Eagles won the opening set, just like they did back in 2009, but NU had to rally after dropping the second and third sets. The Orange would tie the match at 1-1 by winning the second set, 25-19, and then held off the Purple Eagles to win the third set, 27-25, with a match-high .429 hitting percentage.

In the fourth and fifth sets, Niagara relied heavily on junior outside hitter Kari Honomichl, who had a career-best 31 kills in the defeat to the Orange in 2009. Honomichl had 10 of her match-high 18 kills in the final two sets. An ace by Sam Morgan tied clinched the fourth set, 26-24, to setup the deciding fifth set. With the match knotted at 14-14 in the final set, Honomichl scored the last two points to seal the win.

“There were definite momentum swings from beginning to the end, but we regroup at the end and were able to adjust to what they were doing,” Clements said.

Honomichl finished the match with her fourth double-double of the season (18 kills, 11 digs) and had plenty of support. Kathy Bibler had a season-high 16 kills, Amanda Wilken contributed with 11 kills, Ellen Senf had seven kills and freshman Nicole Bayer recorded a career-high 54 assists.

Niagara steps back into MAAC play next weekend when it hosts Manhattan on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. and Saint Peter’s on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m.