Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. – Niagara had its three-match winning streak snapped by SEC power South Carolina (25-15, 9-25, 17-25, 8-25) in the Purple Eagles’ final contest at the Patriot Invitational.

The Purple Eagles (3-3) entered the match against the unbeaten Gamecocks (8-0) full of momentum after winning three straight matches, including beating Navy and George Mason at the Patriot Invitational on Saturday.

NU rode that momentum in the first set against South Carolina. The first set was dominated by senior Kari Honomichl who had a scorching .667 hitting percentage to go along with a set-high nine kills. Niagara had a strong start to the set and built a 15-8 lead. Honomichl scored Niagara’s final three points in the set as NU took the opener, 25-15. The Purple Eagles had their match-best .469 hitting percentage while holding South Carolina to its match-low of .176.

“We executed our game plan very well in the first, but our passing broke down in the second, third and fourth which made it harder for us to put balls away,” head coach Dottie Porch said.

South Carolina bounced back with an efficient outing in the second set, with a .667 hitting percentage, to even the match at 1-1 and ending NU’s six-set winning streak in the process.

The pivotal third set was in the balance throughout. South Carolina broke open a 15-13 lead with an 8-3 run as it won the third set, 25-17. The Gamecocks sprinted out to an early 10-1 lead in the fourth set and never looked back.

Honomichl had another solid match to end the weekend. She finished with a season-high .311 hitting percentage and a match-high 18 kills which are the second most for her this season and the most in a four-set match. Allison Reis led the match with 20 digs.

“Overall it was good weekend,” Porch said. “We made a lot of improvements from last weekend and are moving in the right direction.”

Niagara continues its season-opening road trip next weekend at the Bobcat Invitational, hosted by Ohio University, where it will face Ohio, Montana State and Belmont.