NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – After opening their MAAC schedule with two wins last weekend, the Purple Eagles fell in straight sets to the Iona Gaels on Saturday.

"I feel like our team came out flat and Iona did a good job of taking advantage of the situation on their home court," head coach Vilis Ozols said. "We will regroup and come back stronger."

Rylee Hunt had a match-best 14 digs to extend her double-digit digs streak to 24 matches; classmate Rayenne Hale was also in double-digit digs with 10 and chipped in six kills. Alexis Gray led the Purple Eagles with 19 assists and added eight digs. Nicole Matheis led NU in kills with nine.

The Purple Eagles (5-8, 2-1 MAAC) were edged in the opening set, which had eight ties and six lead changes. A kill by Hale tied the set at 19-19, before the Gaels (3-11, 1-3 MAAC) closed out the set on a 6-1 run. The second set had nine ties and Niagara trailed 23-22, but Iona scored the next two points to win the set. The Gaels jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the third set en route to winning the match.

Niagara is back on the court on Sunday against Manhattan at 1 p.m.

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