Scoresheets

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Freshmen Nicole Matheis and Alexis Gray each recorded their seventh double-double of the season as the Niagara Purple Eagles fell in four sets, 25-20, 17-25, 25-16, 25-19, to the defending MAAC Champion Fairfield Stags on Sunday.

Matheis had 11 kills and 14 digs, while Gray had a team-high 43 assists to go along with 13 digs. Classmates Rayenne Hale and Rylee Hunt led Niagara (8-12, 4-5 MAAC) in kills (12) and digs (20), respectively. Senior Amanda Sedore had nine kills and 14 digs, and Alex Stone added nine kills.

After dropping the first set 25-20, Niagara pushed past Fairfield (10-10, 6-4 MAAC) to take the second. The set was tied at 16-16 when a kill by Stone sparked a 9-1 run to end the set as NU knotted the match at 1-1. However, Fairfield pulled out the pivotal third set. The Stags used an 11-5 run to build an 18-11 lead en route to winning the set 25-16. The Stags had a match-best .244 hitting percentage in the fourth set. Niagara was close throughout, with both teams trading points and were tied five times, but never led. With NU down 17-16, Fairfield would end the match on an 8-3 run.

NU continues its five-match homestand on Wednesday, Oct. 22 when it hosts rival Canisius at 7 p.m. The Purple Eagles defeated the Golden Griffins in five sets in the first meeting this season on Oct. 4.