Match 10
SCORE	Kent State 3 – Niagara 2 (25-13, 26-24, 25-23, 25-17, 15-9)
RECORDS	Kent State (7-5) – Niagara (1-9)
LOCATION	Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center

 
 
KENT, Ohio – The Purple Eagles closed out non-conference play with a close five-set loss to the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday.

Match Summary
First Set

• Kent State took an 8-1 lead over the Purple Eagles but kills from Mary Redl and Molly Jandris brought NU within five points, 8-3.
• The Golden Flashes, however, continued their momentum, extending their lead, 19-7.
• Four straight points from NU cut the deficit to eight points, 19-11.
• Ken State remained in control to close out the set, taking the first set, 25-13.

Second Set

• The Golden Flashes took the lead, 9-4, early in the set, but the Purple Eagles made a quick comeback, scoring four straight points to trail by just one, 9-8.
• Kent State led narrowly, 18-15, but a 5-0 run from NU, capped by an ace from Jaycie Roberts, put the Purple Eagles in the lead, 20-18.
• The Golden Flashes tied the score, 20-20, but three straight points from the Purple Eagles put them back ahead, 23-20.
• The Purple Eagles and Kent State tied things up once again, 24-24, but kills from Redl and Roberts earned the Purple Eagles the 26-24 set two win.

Third Set

• The third set was another close one between the Purple Eagles and the Golden Flashes, with the lead changing 17 times over the course of the set.
• Niagara and Kent State went back and forth, tying things up multiple times before NU went on a 3-0 run, capped by kills from Redl and Caroline Letich, to take a 19-18 lead.
• Two more tie scores put NU and Kent State at 20-20, but kills from Redl and Leitch once again put Niagara on top, 22-20.
• The score was once again tied twice, but Niagara was able to win the third set, 25-23, earning the final point on a service ace from Grace Hetterscheidt.

Fourth Set

• The Golden Flashes quickly jumped ahead of NU in the fourth set, taking a 10-point lead, 17-7.
• A kill from Roberts put the Purple Eagles within nine, 17-8, but the Golden Flashes scored three straight points to extend their lead, 20-8.
• A kill from Leitch and an attack error from Kent State out Niagara back within 10, 20-10, but the Golden Flashes maintained their lead for the rest of the set, earning the 25-17 win to force the match into a fifth set.

Fifth Set

• The Golden Flashes led the Purple Eagles 8-2 in the fifth set, but a kill from Taylor Allen and a setting error halved Kent State's lead, 8-4.
• Kent State got ahead by eight, 14-6, but a 3-0 run from NU brought the Purple Eagles closer to the lead, 14-9. Kent State, however, scored the match-winning point and won the fifth set, 15-9.

Eagle's Eye On…

• Roberts was selected to the All-Tournament Team. She recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 11 kills and a team-high 18 digs.
• Redl also added 11 kills for the Purple Eagles.
• Jessica Streuer recorded a double-double with 11 digs and team-high 28 assists.
• Emillie Wright and Leitch each had double-digit digs; Wright had 13 digs and Leitch had 11.

Up Next

• The Purple Eagles open MAAC play on Tuesday, Sept. 24, hosting crosstown rival Canisius for the first installment of the Battle of the Bridge at 6:00 p.m. The match will air live on ESPN+.

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