NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles held off a Iona comeback to down the Gales in five sets, 28-26, 25-21, 22-25, 14-25, 15-13, on Saturday.

"The win today was such a positive affirmation for the team," head coach Vilis Ozols said. "This past week of practice was the toughest and hardest of the season and the players delivered their most complete match, so far, of the season."
 
After consecutive five-set defeats last weekend, the Purple Eagles (3-21, 2-10 MAAC) earned their first five-set win of the season this afternoon.  

Junior Amanda Sedore had a career day as she played a major role in the win. Sedore's match-high 26 kills are the most by a Purple Eagle since Hannah Hedrick's 26 against Manhattan in 2011. Sedore also tied a career-high in digs with 17 en route to her sixth double-double of the season.  Joining Sedore in double-digit kills were Alex Stone (15) and Melissa McGwin (10), while Logan Rae had her third double-double season with 45 assists and 12 digs.

Niagara slipped past Iona in the opening set, 28-26, and pulled away from the Gaels in the second by scoring four of the last five points to take a 2-0 set lead. Iona (12-13, 10-5 MAAC) got back into the match by taking the third set, 25-22, and tied the match at 2-2 by winning the fourth set 25-14.
 
With the score tied at 10-10 in the final set, a service ace by Chelsea Watson started a 4-1 spurt for Niagara, leaving the Purple Eagles on the verge of victory. The Gaels, though, scored two straight points to cut the score to 14-13; however, an attacking error by Iona's Taylor Cembalisty handing Niagara the win.
 
"I was particular proud of their swings at crunch time," Ozols added. "The team produced today in the highest pressure situation."  

The Purple Eagles had a season-high 85 digs with six players having double-digit digs. Allison Reis had a match-high 23 digs en route to eclipsing the 1,000-dig plateau.

"A special congratulations to Allison on the 1,000^th dig of her career," Ozols said. "That is an impressive plateau reserved only for the toughest defensive players."

Niagara continues its road trip on Sunday against Manhattan at 1 p.m.