ScoresheetsNIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – A pair of Purple Eagles notched season-highs as Niagara fell in four sets, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 28-26, to the Manhattan Jaspers on Saturday.
"That was an exciting match with lots of ups and downs," head coach
Vilis Ozols said. "Our first game I thought we played really, really well and executed well. I was really proud of the team as they came back after dropping the next two and played a super competitive fourth set. I thought Nicole (Matheis) had a great game attacking today."
Nicole Mathes led the match with 17 kills which are the most by a Purple Eagle (7-13, 4-6 MAAC) this season. She added 14 digs to complete her fifth double-double of the season.
Alexis Gray's 42 assists are the most by a Purple Eagle this season and she collected 15 digs for her team-best 12th double-double of the season.
Rayenne Hale had her fourth double-double of the season with 12 kills and 14 digs.
Rylee Hunt led the team with 20 digs.
The opening set was Niagara's best statistical offensive set; the Purple Eagles had 15 kills and a .250 hitting percentage, along with a match-high in sideout percentage (.69). With the set tied at 17-17, NU used a strong finish capped with a kill by Hale for a 25-22 win. The second set went to Manhattan (14-10, 8-3 MAAC) in a part to an 8-2 run midway through the set.
The Jaspers, who had a match-high .297 hitting percentage in the third set, scored the set's last three points to take a 2-1 lead. The fourth set witnessed 11 ties and eight lead changes. NU faced match point at 24-23 before reeling off two straight points for a set point of its own. The Purple Eagles had another set point at 26-25, but the Jasper scored three consecutive points to end the match.
The Purple Eagles will host the Iona Gaels on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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