HAMILTON, NY – After trading the sets on the way to a 2-2 tie, a late comeback by the Purple Eagles in the fifth set fell just short and Niagara dropped its season opening match to Colgate 3-2.
 
"Tonight's match was a game of momentum with both teams taking the advantage from the other," said head coach Vilis Ozols.
 
The teams split the first two sets, with Colgate (1-0) leading the entire first set and NU (0-1) leading wire-to-wire in the second. The score went back and forth throughout the third frame with the Raiders eventually taking it 25-22. Then the Purple Eagles, with their backs against the wall, took a quick 4-0 lead in the fourth set and never looked back on the way to a 25-14 victory.
 
Niagara found itself behind 10-4 in the fifth and final set, but managed one more rally. The Purple and White went on a 7-3 run to cut the deficit to two points, 13-11, before ultimately climbing within a single point, 14-13. That was as close as they would come as Colgate was able to get the match-point to come away with the 15-13 win in the set to take the match three sets to two.
 
"Colgate has a very strong program and our team took them to the brink," Ozols said. "I was very pleased with the effort particularly the way how our freshmen gelled with our returners."

Senior Allison Reis turned in a match-high 35 digs while freshman Nicole Matheis led the match with 22 kills. Amanda Sedore turned in 13 kills for the Purple Eagles while both Alex Stone and Rayenne Hale had 10.
 
The Purple Eagles are back on the court tomorrow with a pair of games to open the Syracuse Tournament. They face Temple at 1:30 p.m. and Delaware State at 4:00 p.m.