NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Niagara women's volleyball program fell to rival Canisius in four sets (21-25, 26-28, 25-20, 22-25) Saturday afternoon in MAAC volleyball action from the Gallagher Center.
 
Match Recap
First Set
• Niagara took the first two points of the set via Canisius attack errors.
• After Canisius picked up their first point of the set, NU rattled off six unanswered points to take an 8-1 lead over the Griffs.
• Canisius would go on a 6-0 run of its own to make it an 8-7 game.
• NU would go back up by two before the Griffs took their first lead of the set, three points later, 10-9.
• The Purple Eagles would answer right back with a five-point run to take a 14-10 lead.
• The Blue and Gold would tie it at 14-14 with a four-point swing of their own.  
• With the score 19-17 in favor of Canisius, the Purple and White would score three-straight to make it a 20-19 game.
• Canisius would outscore NU 6-1 to take the first set 25-21.
 
Second Set
• Niagara once again took the first two points of the set before Canisius was able to get on the board.
• The Purple Eagles would battle for an 11-9 lead shortly thereafter.  
• After Canisius tied it at 11-all, NU would take back-to-back points to take a 13-11 lead that would eventually grow to 15-12 and then 18-13.
• With the score 19-15 in favor of NU, the Golden Griffins would score five-straight to take a 20-19 lead over the Purple and White.
• The teams would trade points until Canisius rattled off a 3-0 run to take the set 28-26.
 
Third Set
• Niagara would maintain at least a one-point lead for most of the start of the third set.
• With the score 11-9 the Purple Eagles would score four of the next five points to take a 15-10 lead into the media timeout.
• Following the timeout, NU's lead would grow to 20-13.
• Niagara would get to set point, 24-18, when Canisius made it interesting by scoring twice to make it 24-20, but the Purple Eagles would hold on to force a fourth set with a 25-20 win.
 
Fourth Set
• For the third time in four sets, Niagara took a two-point lead to start the fourth.
• That lead would grow to 4-1, before Canisius battled back to tie things at seven later in the set.
• After Niagara took an 8-7 lead, Canisius would go on an 8-1 run to take a 14-9 advantage.
• The Purple and White would pull within two, 14-12, after a three-point swing.
• Five of the next seven points would go to Canisius, giving the visitors a 19-14 lead.
• Niagara would get within one, 22-21, after a 6-1 run by the Purple Eagles.
• Canisius would close the set on a 3-1 run to take the fourth set and the match.
 
Niagara Notes
• Niagara drops to 39-41 all-time against its rival.
• Jenna Vogen led Niagara with 11 kills, followed by Laryssa Imbuzeiro with nine and Lexi Bapst and Kinga Wronska with eight.
• Kylie Blessing and Kelly McArthur collected 14 and 12 assists, respectively.
• Bella Peroni collected a season-high 26 digs, followed by Bapst with 19.
• Imbuzeiro led NU with 14.5 points.
• Taylor Allen was awarded four block assists.
 
Up Next
• Niagara and Canisius will be back at it again tomorrow afternoon. Sunday's match will begin at 12 p.m. at the Koessler Athletic Center in downtown Buffalo, NY on ESPN3.
 
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