DAYTON, OHIO – The Niagara University volleyball team's rally fell short in its season opener to the Wright State Raiders as part of the Holiday Inn Classic, losing 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 28-30, 25-19) on Friday night.

Sophomore Rayenne Hale captured her first career double-double with a team-high 12 kills and with 12 digs. Sophomore Nicole Matheis notched her 12th career double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs while sophomore setter Alexis Gray had a team-high 29 assists and had 10 digs for her 17th career double-double. Sophomore Rylee Hunt led NU with 17 digs.

NU dropped the first two sets despite starting off strong in each set. Niagara led 16-11 and forced a Wright State timeout before the Raiders went on a 10-3 run.  An ace by Gray cut the lead to 23-22, but the Raiders scored the final two points to take first set. The score was tied at 8-8 in second set when Raiders went on 5-1 run and eventually led 21-13 en route to 25-20 win.

The Purple Eagles outlasted the Raiders to take the third set, 30-28; NU had a match-high 15 kills in the set. NU saved three match points before getting consecutive points on a kill by Hale and an attacking error by Wright State's Megan Hopkins to force a fourth set. NU scored four straight points to start the fourth set and led 14-11 before the Raiders reeled off a 7-1 run to seize control of the set on their way to a 25-19 win.

NU continues play in the invitational on Saturday against Evansville at 10 a.m. followed by Tennessee Tech at 3:30 p.m.

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