Niagara University, NY - Niagara volleyball fell to Rider in four sets (22-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22) Saturday afternoon at the Gallagher Center. Niagara fell to 7-10 overall and 7-2 in MAAC play.

Set One

Niagara got the first point of the game, with Kylie Blessing finding Liana Tolliver for the match's opening kill. The Purple Eagles built an early 2-0 lead when Payton Lee and Janiah Robinson combined for a block.

Niagara extended their lead to 14-9 with kills from Robinson, Kinga Wronska, Mia Schaefer, Tolliver and Lee.

The middle portion of the set saw Niagara grow their lead to 19-14, with Wronska serving an ace.

Rider tried to mount a comeback, cutting the deficit to 23-21 but Niagara was able to hold with a kill from Lee delivered a crucial kill to take the set 25-22.

The set featured balanced contributions. Tolliver had four kills, Wronska added three, and Wilkes chipped in three as well. 

Set Two

Rider got out to a 2-0 lead to start the second set and held control the entirety of the set.

The Broncs went on a 7-2 run, but Robinson and Lee combined to bring Niagara within four, and Wronska added a kill to make it 15-11.

Rider pushed their lead to 23-15 and ended up taking the second set 25-17.

Set Three

Tolliver opened the first set with a kill from Blessing to give the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead.

The Broncs built out a 6-2 lead, but a kill from Schaefer and a block from Lee and Robinson brought it to a two point game.

The Purple Eagles got it to an 8-7 game with errors from the Broncs, but Rider went on a three point swing to reinstate their lead.

Tolliver, Robinson and Lee all tried to keep Niagara in the set recording kills, but the Broncs held on for a 25-22 set win.

Set Four

Rider struck first with a Purple Eagles attack error, but Lee immediately answered with a kill from Blessing to tie it 1-1. 

Both teams traded points early to knot the game up at five, but Rider got out to a 12-8 lead and continued the pressure.

Wilkes and Robinson combined for kills to keep Niagara within striking distance at 15-12. Niagara tried to make one last push down 20-15 with a kill from Wilkes and an ace from Schaefer to make it a two point game.

Wronska added another kill to make it 21-20 and then Robinson blocked a Broncs attempt to cut the lead to one, but it was not enough as Rider held on once again to take the final set 25-22.

Game Notes

Niagara is now 24-23 all-time against Rider

Wronska tallied her 10th double double of the season with 12 kills and 18 digs

Robinson recorded a season-high 12 kills

Blessing tallied 20+ assists for the 10th time this season with 25

Up Next

Niagara stays at home to face Siena Friday October 25 at 6 pm inside the Gallagher Center for their Dig Pink game.