ITHACA, N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team concluded play at the Cornell Tournament with straight-set victories over the Delaware State Hornets (25-16, 25-14, 25-16) and the Cornell Big Red (25-14, 25-22, 26-24) on Saturday.

Delaware State 0, Niagara 3

Niagara used a balance attacking effort en route to defeating Delaware State (0-2) 3-0 for its first win at the Cornell Tournament.

“We passed and served well,” head coach Susan Clements said. “Ellen was a big force offensively and our blocking was much improved.”

Ellen Senf and Kari Honomichl each had nine kills, with Senf leading the team with a .333 hitting percentage. Hannah Hedrick’s streak of six-straight games of double-digit kills ended with seven kills in the match, while Kathy Bibler contributed with six kills. Freshman setter Nicole Bayer led the match with 29 assists.

The Purple Eagles benefited from fast starts in the first two sets to cruise to a 2-0 lead and committed only one error in the third set in the win.

Niagara 3, Cornell 0

The Purple Eagles (4-4) sprinted to an early first set lead en route to a 25-14 win behind a match-high .389 hitting percentage. Niagara had another strong start to open the second set, running off six straight points to take a 9-2 lead. The Purple Eagles would win the set, 25-22, with their defense forcing eight Cornell (1-2) turnovers and holding the Big Red to a .093 hitting percentage in the set.

In the third set, NU was facing a 5-1 deficit before marching its way to a 15-14 lead midway through the set. The Purple Eagles were facing set point at 24-23 when an attacking error by Cornell’s Kelly Marble tied the match at 24-24. The error opened the door for Niagara, as it picked up two points from Honomichl and Hedrick to win the match.

“We had some players really step up in the third set to pull out a tight match,” Clements said. “It was a real test for our younger players and it was great to see our veteran really lead the way.”

Honomichl and Hedrick were the only two players with double-digit kills in the match with 13 and 10, respectively. Middle blocker Amanda Wilken had nine kills and three block assists. Bayer finished with a match-high 33 assists. Libero Sam Morgan had a match-high 26 digs to extend her NCAA-best double-digit digs streak to 104 matches.

Hedrick and Morgan were both named to the all-tournament team. 

Next weekend, the Purple Eagles will play their final in-season tournament when they compete at the Indiana Tournament against Eastern Illinois (Sept. 9), Indiana and Gonzaga (Sept. 10).

Final Standings
UTEP 4-0
American 2-1
Niagara 2-2
Cornell 1-3
Delaware State 0-3 

All-Tournament Team
MVP – Xitlali Herrera (UTEP)
Sara Rishell (Ameican)
Juliana Crum (American
Janel Forte (Cornell)
Jessica Russell-Croucher (Delaware State)
Hannah Hedrick (Niagara)
Sam Morgan (Niagara)
Bridget Logan (UTEP)