Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara volleyball team saw their four match winning streak come to an end on Sunday after as they fell in straight sets to the Fairfield Stags.
First Set
The two teams played a close opening set that saw five lead changes and the score being tied 10 times. Niagara took the first point of the match as the teams traded points until the score was 10-10. The teams were tied at 19 late in the set with neither team being able to gain a substantial lead. Following the tie at 19, Fairfield took six of the next eight points to take the opening set 25-21.
Niagara had 14 kills in the first set with six different Purple Eagles having a kill. Cassie Seminoff had a set high six kills on 10 attacks. Lexi Bapst, Janiah Robinson, and Laryssa Imbuzeiro all had two kills while Jenna Vogen and Payton Lee each had one kill. Niagara had four blocks in the opening set, Robinson had three block assists while Vogen, Imbuzeiro, Bapst, Seminoff, and Lee all had one block assist. Casey Brown had seven assists in the set with Kylie Blessing having four. All nine players that appeared in the set tallied a dig.
Second Set
In the second set there were four lead changes and seven ties. Fairfield took the early 8-4 lead but the Purple Eagles responded and forced ties at 12,13,14, and 15. Fairfield then took the lead back as they led by as much as three. The Purple Eagles once again fought back to tie the set at 23. Niagara could not take the set as Fairfield took the set 26-24.
The Purple Eagles forced six blocks in the second set with Robinson and Imbuzeiro each having three total blocks. Robinson had three block assists while Imbuzeiro had one solo block and two assists. Bapst had a team high five kills in the set while Seminoff had three kills. Blessing, Robinson, Imbuzeiro, and Lee all had kills in the set. Brown had a team high seven assists while Blessing had three. Seminoff led the team with eight digs in the second set while eight Purple Eagles had a dig.
Third Set
The two teams were back and forth early in the set as the teams were tied at six after 12 points. However that would be the last time that the teams were tied as Fairfield took the lead and never looked back as they took the final set 25-17 to take the three set win.
Bapst led the Purple Eagles with three kills in the third set while Vogen had two and Lee and Robinson each had one. The Purple Eagles had three blocks with Robinson having one solo block, Imbuzeiro teamed for two block assists with Vogen and Seminoff.
Niagara Notes
· Niagara had 13 blocks against the Stags. Niagara has had six matches with 10 or more blocks in a match. They lead the MAAC with 2.51 blocks per set while also taking over the MAAC lead with 171 total blocks this season.
· Bapst had a team high 10 kills, she has eight matches this season with double digit kills.
· Seminoff had a team high 21 digs which tied her career high that was set on Oct. 2, 2021 against Manhattan.
· Robinson had a match high seven total blocks which ties her career high, it is the third time this season she has had seven total blocks.
· Niagara sits at 8-4 in MAAC play with six matches remaining in the regular season. They are in fourth place in the MAAC, they are one match back of Marist for third place, two back of Quinnipiac for second place and three back of Fairfield who is 11-1 and leads the MAAC. They hold a one match lead on Iona who is fifth, Rider sits in the sixth and final postseason position with a 5-6 record.
Up Next
After four straight matches at home, Niagara hits the road to take on Marist on Saturday and Siena on Sunday. Both matches are scheduled for 1 PM.
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