Scoresheets 

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles twice rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat the Iona Gaels, 19-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-15, 15-12, on Saturday in their annual "Dig Pink" match.

"We ran into a tough, scrappy, Iona squad today that brought their "A" game," head coach Vilis Ozols said.  "Initially I don't think our players were surprised, but more out worked and out executed early. However, it was significant how our team withstood the Iona surge and then seemed to win all the long rallies and surged back themselves with a lot of determination. This was a very hard fought win." 

Three Purple Eagles collected double-doubles in the match. Nicole Matheis (11 kills & 20 digs) and Alexis Gray (44 assists & 16 digs) each had their team-best eighth double-double, while Amanda Sedore (11 kills & 12 digs) had her seventh. Rayenne Hale led Niagara in kills with 12. Defensively, NU had a season-high 92 digs with four players in double-digits led by a career-best 29 by freshman Rylee Hunt.

The Purple Eagles and Gaels alternated wins through the first four sets. Iona jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the first set. A kill by Sedore cut the lead to 15-14, but Niagara never tied the set as the Gaels went on to win 25-19. The Purple Eagles bounced back in the second set with a 25-20 win. NU stumbled in the third set, hitting .030, as it went into the fourth set down 2-1.

NU pulled away in the fourth set with a 9-3 run to take a 19-10 lead en route to winning the set 25-15 to force the deciding set. The Purple Eagles used the momentum from the fourth set into the fifth set. With the set tied at 2-2, NU scored four of the next five points to seize control. The Gaels would cut the lead to 8-6, but Niagara pushed through for a 15-12 win the close out the match.

NU, which has won four its last five matches, wraps up its five-match homestand on Sunday against Manhattan at 1 p.m.