NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team was defeated by the Marist Red Foxes, 14-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20, on Sunday.

"Our team came out and played really well in that first set and essentially showed they had what was necessary to succeed , but after that Marist kept getting more efficient and we slowly played with less intensity," head coach Vilis Ozols said.  "We showed that we need a more aggressive 'close out' mentality when we have the advantage." 

Taylor Edmonds led Niagara with 10 kills, followed by nine apiece by Melissa McGwin and Nicole Matheis, who also had 18 digs. Alexis Gray had her eighth double-double of the season with 23 assists and 15 digs, while Rylee Hunt (18) and Rayenne Hale (17) also had double-digit digs.

The Purple Eagles (5-11, 2-4 MAAC) controlled the first set on their way to a 25-14 win. Niagara had 13 kills and a .237 hitting percentage in the set compared to Marist's -.019 hitting percentage. Edmonds had six of her team-leading 10 kills in the set.

Marist (11-6, 4-2 MAAC) bounced back by winning the next three sets. The Red Foxes tied up the match at 1-1 behind a match-best .393 hitting percentage. In the third set with the score knotted at 22-22, the Red Foxes scored three of the next four points to win the set. Marist was efficient in the fourth set to pull out the win; the Red Foxes had a match-best 17 kills and an 80 percent sideout in a set that had 10 ties and four leads changes.

Niagara continues its homestand next Saturday when the Purple Eagles host archrival Canisius on at 1 p.m.

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