DOVER, Del. – The Niagara volleyball team defeated the Delaware State Hornets, 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 25-19, on Monday for its first win of the season.

It took the Purple Eagles (1-12) four sets of long rallies and a career-high day by a freshman to prevail for the win.

"The players earned this win with hard work and discipline," head coach Vilis Ozols said. "They won numerous, long exciting rallies through pure effort. This one was long overdue."

Freshman Alex Stone led Niagara in kills with a career-high 14 kills in today's match. Her 14th and final kill was the match clinching point in the fourth set.

Niagara won the first two sets against Delaware State (1-9). After edging the Hornets in the opening set, the Purple Eagles rallied from a 21-16 deficit to close out the second set on a 9-2 run. Niagara had a match-best .310 hitting percentage in the set.

The Purple Eagles comeback from another deficit in the third set, trailing 15-7, to tie the score at 22-22, before DSU won three straight points to stave off defeat.

With the score tied at 13-13 in the fourth set, a kill by Stone broke the tie and started a 6-1 run as the Purple Eagles held on for the win.

Stone's .440 hitting percentage was the second highest by a Purple Eagle this season. She also finished with eight digs. Amanda Sedore had 12 kills to be the other Purple Eagle with double-digit kills. Logan Rae was the lone Purple Eagle in double-digit digs with 10.

Niagara will play its first home matches of the season this weekend when it hosts Siena on Saturday and Marist on Sunday at 1 p.m. each day.