Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara volleyball team earned its fourth straight win and its ninth win in the last 10 matches as they defeated Quinnipiac in straight sets at the Gallagher Center on Saturday.

First Set

The first set saw just one lead change and one tie, Quinnipiac took the first two points of the set which was followed by Niagara tying the set at two on a block from Lexi Bapst and Laryssa Imbuzeiro. Following the bock, the Purple Eagles went on to dominate the opening set as they downed the Bobcats 25-11.

The Purple Eagles had five blocks in the opening set as Imbuzeiro and Cassie Seminoff both had one solo while Bapst and Imbuzeiro each had two block assists, Jenna Vogen and Janiah Robinson also both had a block assist. Niagara had nine kills in the first set with Seminoff and Vogen each having three. Bapst had two kills while Robinson had one to open the set. Kylie Blessing had four assists while Casey Brown and Bella Peroni each had two assists.

Second Set

In the second set there were seven lead changes and 11 different times in which the score was tied. Once again, the Bobcats got the first point in the set but the two teams played back and fourth until the media timeout as Quinnipiac held a slight 15-13 lead. Out of the timeout, Niagara closed the edge and eventually took the 18-17 lead on a kill from Robinson. After an ace from Bapst, Quinnipiac called timeout. The Purple Eagles kept battling throughout the set and closed the set on a block from Robinson and Vogen to give the Purple Eagles a 25-22 win.

Six Purple Eagles had a kill in the set with Robinson, Imbuzeiro, Bapst, and Payton Lee all notching two kills. Both Vogen and Seminoff each had a kill as well. The Purple Eagles had six blocks in the set, Imbuzeiro and Robinson each had three block assists, Vogen and Bapst had two, while Lee and Seminoff each had one block assist. Brown led the way in the assist category in the second set as she had eight assists.

Third Set

Just like the first two sets, Quinnipiac took the opening point of the set. There were just three lead changes and five tied scores in the third set. Niagara took a 9-6 lead early in the set which forced a Quinnipiac timeout. The Purple Eagles built their lead to as high as eight multiple times in the set and ultimately took the set 25-18 to win the match.

Niagara had 18 points as a team in the third set with 13 of the points coming on kills. Lee, Seminoff, and Bapst all had three kills in the set with Imbuzeiro having two and Vogen and Robinson each having one. The Purple Eagles had three blocks with Imbuzeiro having three block assists, Vogen two block assists and Lee with one block assist. Brown once again led Niagara with six assists while Blessing had five for Niagara.

Niagara Notes

·       Niagara has surpassed their MAAC win total from a season ago as they are 8-3 in MAAC play and 9-10 overall.

·       The Purple Eagles have defended their home court this season as they are 7-1 at the Gallagher Center.

·       Niagara is 9-1 in their last 10 matches.

·       With the win over Niagara, it is the second straight match that Niagara has defeated a team that held at least part of the MAAC lead.

·       Niagara is 18-6 all-time against Quinnipiac with the win.

·       The Purple Eagles spread the wealth on offense as six Purple Eagles had at lead three kills. Seminoff and Bapst led the way with a match high seven.

·       Peroni had a match high 15 digs in the win with Bapst right behind her with 13 digs.

·       Imbuzeiro had nine total blocks which is the second most in any MAAC match this season, it is also the most in a three set match this season. She has three matches this season with nine total blocks. She leads the MAAC with 93 total blocks, she averaging 1.43 blocks per set which also leads the MAAC.

Up Next

Niagara looks for its second straight weekend sweep as they host Fairfield on Sunday at 1 PM. The Stags sit atop the MAAC standings at 10-1.

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