Box Score 

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles had their three-match win streak come to a halt with a straight set defeat to the Fairfield Stags on Sunday.

The preseason top two picks battled through three tight sets, but it was the visitors who pulled out the win. 

“We made some uncharacteristic mistakes today," head coach Dottie Porch said.  "Fairfield made it hard for us to put balls away and we weren’t able to capitalize on the opportunities we had.”

Kari Honomichl moved into third place in career kills with five kills in the opening set. Honomichl, who needed two kills for third place, passed Erin Graham (’05) who had 1,310 kills. NU (9-10, 6-3 MAAC) trailed 16-15 in the first set, but Fairfield’s Brianna Dixion scored six of the next eight points to help the Stags (13-8, 8-3 MAAC) close out the set, 25-17.

A couple of small runs made the difference the second set. Fairfield broke the 17-17 tie with a 4-0 spurt, but the Purple Eagles answered by tying the match at 23-23. Honomichl tied the match at 24-24 before a service error gave Fairfield a one-point lead. A kill by Dixion ended the set for Fairfield, 26-24.

NU held a 19-14 lead in the third set when Fairfield charged back into the match and eventually took a 22-21 lead. Both teams would exchange points with each team serving to close out the set twice. NU had set point at 28-27, but a service error tied the match. Consecutive attacking errors by Niagara ended match at 30-28.

Honomichl finished the match a team-high 16 kills and added 12 digs for her sixth straight match with a double-double and 10th this season. Michelle James led the team with 32 assists had seven digs and five kills. Ellen Senf s streak of seven straight matches with double-digit kills ended as she had nine kills on the day.

This is NU’s first loss to Fairfield since Oct. 25, 2009; the Purple Eagles had won the last six meetings which included wins at the 2010 MAAC Tournament Semifinals and at the 2011 MAAC Final.

Niagara continues its five-match homestand on Wednesday when it hosts archrival Canisius at 6 p.m.