SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles concluded action at the Syracuse Tournament on Saturday. NU lost to Syracuse before falling to Grand Canyon in four sets.
SCORE: Niagara 0, Syracuse 3 (25-16, 25-20, 25-22)
TOURNAMENT: Syracuse Tournament
RECORDS: Niagara (0-2), Syracuse (2-1)
Match Summary
Niagara fell in three sets to the host Syracuse Orange to start Saturday's matches.
In the opening set, the Orange jumped out to an 8-2 lead. NU trimmed the lead to 14-11, before the Orange went on an 8-3 run to pull away for a 25-16 opening set win. Niagara led 4-1 after five points, and 9-5 in the early stages of the second set. The match was knotted at 10-10 when SU took over with an 8-1 spurt as the Orange won the set, 25-20.
NU trailed early in the third set, but stormed back into the match to tie it at 20-20. A kill by
Nicole Matheis, followed by a block by freshman
Grace Hetterscheidt, gave the Purple Eagles a 22-20 lead. However, the Orange reeled off five straight points to clinch the match.
Eagle's Eye On…
Coach's Corner
- "This was both a frustrating match and one with learning benefits at the same time. It seemed like it took the first two sets of the match for us to start playing comfortably. When the team started playing in character in the third set, there were a lot of positives. Jada Carrol had a spectacular match, and Rylee Hunt was also outstanding in our defensive effort." – head coach Vilis Ozols
SCORE: Grand Canyon 3, Niagara 1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-13)
TOURNAMENT: Syracuse Tournament
RECORDS: Grand Canyon (3-0), Niagara (0-3)
Match Summary
First set, trailing 9-8 scores five straight points with Roberts providing two kills. A kill by Matheis gave NU a 14-11 lead and forcing a timeout called by GCU. The Lopes tied the score at 15-15 as the teams alternated points over the next eight points. Niagara scored three straight points to take a 22-19 lead and an attacking error by the Lopes sealed the set for the Purple Eagles at 25-21.
NU rallied from an early deficit in the second set to take a 13-12 lead on a Roberts' kill. The Lopes went back in front for a 17-16 lead and eventually pulled away for a 25-20 victory to tie the set. In the third set, GCU broke a 9-9 tie with a 6-1 run en route to a 25-15 win. GCU got off to another fast start in the fourth set. Niagara scored four straight points to cut the lead to 7-6 before the Lopes went on a set-changing 13-3 run.
Eagle's Eye On…
- Rylee Hunt led the match with a season-high 26 digs.
- Nicole Matheis led Niagara with 10 kills and added 10 digs for her first double-double of the season.
- Meghan Higley collected her first career double-double with a team-high 17 assists and 13 digs.
- Jaycie Roberts had 14 digs and eight kills.
Up Next
- Niagara heads to Colorado next week for matches at the Pioneer Classic, hosted by the University of Denver.
- The Purple Eagles will play Eastern Illinois on Sept. 1, and faces Denver and UC Davis on Sept. 2.
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@NUPurpleEagles and for volleyball updates at
@NiagaraVB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on
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