Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara Volleyball team fell in four sets to Iona at home on Saturday afternoon.
Game Recap
First Set (W, 25-19)
- The Purple Eagles took their first set for the first time since Oct. 9 when they beat Saint Peter's in three sets.
- Iona jumped out to a 3-0 lead but the Purple Eagles responded with a four point run of their own to take the lead.
- The two teams traded points as the Purple Eagles hit double digits first as they had a 10-9 lead.
- Neither team could pull away in the set as Niagara had the largest lead of five in the set.
- There were 11 times in which the set was tied and five different lead changes.
- Niagara took the set as Iona made a service error and a ball handling error to end the set. Niagara had a .143 hitting percentage in the first set.
Second Set (L, 23-25)
- Unlike the first set, Niagara took control of the set early on as they flew to a 5-1 lead.
- Iona clawed their way back into the set and the two teams kept trading points. After 30 points the teams were interlocked in a 15-15 tie.
- The two teams kept throwing haymakers back and forth and the Purple Eagles led 21-18. However, Iona took control by taking seven of the last nine points to even to the match at a set a piece.
- In the second set there were five total lead changes while the score was tied nine times.
- After two sets Liana Tolliver had eight kills while Casey Brown had a team high 11 assists.
Third Set (L, 23-25)
- The third set was different then the opening two sets as neither team jumped out to a lead. Both teams traded points and it was 6-6 after the opening 12 points.
- Iona opened the set up a little as they took a 17-12 lead.
- Niagara battle back despite falling behind earlier in the set. The Iona lead was down to two on multiple occasions but the Purple Eagles couldn't get any closer to the Gaels.
- After three sets Niagara had 34 kills led by Tolliver who had 11 kills, seven other Purple Eagles also had kills.
Fourth Set (L, 23-25)
- To no surprise the teams opened the set by trading points until the Purple Eagles took a 12-9 lead. It was biggest lead of the set to that point.
- Both teams kept scoring points and Iona tied the game at 16-16 after the first 32 points of the set.
- Late in the set the Purple Eagles held a 23-22 lead and it looked like the match was going to five sets. However, Iona took the last three sets to take both the set and the match.
Niagara Notes
- Tolliver set a new career high with 16 kills beating her previous high of seven that she had against Binghamton.
- As a team the Purple Eagles outhit the Gaels as Niagara had a .134 hitting percentage compared to .118 from Iona.
- The duo of Brown and Kelly McArthur had a combined 38 assists. Brown had 18 while McArthur had 20.
- Tolliver and Brown both had aces in the match as Tolliver had two and Brown one.
Up Next
The Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center tomorrow as they host Manhattan at 1 PM.
