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Niagara University Athletics

Hunt
3
Winner Fairfield FFD 11-6, 6-0 MAAC
2
Niagara NIA 9-6, 5-1 MAAC
Winner
Fairfield FFD
11-6, 6-0 MAAC
3
Final
2
Niagara NIA
9-6, 5-1 MAAC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Fairfield FFD 30 25 25 20 15 (3)
Niagara NIA 32 22 14 25 12 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Niagara’s Win Streak Halted In Five-Set Thriller For First Place

SCORE: Fairfield 3, Niagara 2 (30-32, 25-22, 25-14, 20-25, 15-12)
RECORDS: Fairfield (11-6, 6-0 MAAC), Niagara (9-6, 5-1 MAAC) 

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team had its eight-match win streak come to an end in a five-set defeat to the two-time defending MAAC Champion Fairfield Stags in a battle of two unbeaten teams in the conference on Sunday.

Match Summary
The Purple Eagles started off playing in what we become their longest set of the year to date. While the Stags led throughout the early part of the set, Niagara never trailed by more than four and later tied the set, 20-20. In a set that featured 14 ties and nine different lead changes, the Purple Eagles rallied a pair of points to take the first set, 32-30.
 
Niagara started off the second set just as strong as it ended the first set, leading 14-9. The Stags, however, held their own and went on an 11-2 run to take their largest lead of the set, 20-16. While the Purple Eagles won the next five points to take the lead, 21-20, the Stags proved to be too much and tied the match at one set apiece.
 
After each team split the first two points of the third set, Fairfield took the lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 11 en route to taking a 2-1 lead in the set. In the fourth set, Niagara bounced back in similar fashion, never relinquishing the lead after the first two points in the match were split. A Grace Hetterscheidt block later in the set gave the Purple Eagles their largest lead of the set, 19-13, and although the Stags cut the lead down to two late, the comeback effort was not enough as Niagara was able to win the set and force a final fifth set.

The final set of the afternoon gave Niagara a comfortable start early, leading 6-1. The Stags scratched back into the set with an 11-3 run to take the lead on their way to snapping Niagara's eight-match winning streak.
 
Eagle's Eye On…
  • Nicole Matheis led the team and tied her season-high in kills with 15. Matheis also finished with a double-double with her 15 digs for her team-leading sixth double-double
  • Rachel Hall recorded a career-high 26 assists, which are the most by a Purple Eagle this season. She also finished with 12 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
  • Rylee Hunt tied a career-high with 42 digs, two shy of tying a program record.
  • Draik Banks tied her season-high in block assists with seven.

Inside The Numbers
  • Niagara's eight-match winning streak was their longest since the 2011 season, when the team won 15 straight matches.
  • The match featured 21 tied scores and 15 lead changes, with the first set featuring 14 and 9, respectively.
  • Niagara had a 12-10 advantage in blocks. The 12 blocks tied a season-high
  • The Purple Eagles' 96 digs are tied for second most this season.
     
Coach's Corner
  • "That was such a fun game to be a part of. The momentum shifts went both ways and ultimately Fairfield closed it out at the end. There were a lot of positives that we took from that match that will serve us well as we continue through the season." – head coach Vilis Ozols

Up Next
  • NU is back on the road next weekend, playing the Manhattan Jaspers on Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. and Iona on Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.
 
Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for volleyball updates at @NiagaraVB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles. 

 
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