Niagara University, NY - Niagara volleyball continued their winning ways in conference play defeating Merrimack in five sets (22-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-16, 15-12) at Bert Hammel Court in North Andover, Mass.

The Purple Eagles improved to 4-8, 4-0 MAAC, while the Warriors fell to 3-10, 1-3 MAAC.

Set One

Niagara recorded the first point of the game on an attack error from the Warriors, while Payton Lee got the Purple Eagles their first kill of the game to take a 4-3 lead.

Both teams traded points throughout the set, but the Warriors were able to put together five points during a six point run to make the game 24-19.

Niagara tried to mount a late comeback scoring three straight points with kills from Liana Tolliver and Sydney Wilkes but Merrimack was able to take set one 25-22.

Kinga Wronska and Lee both led the Purple and White with three kills in the first set, while Kylie Blessing tallied six assists.

Set Two

The Warriors held the lead for the first half of the second set, but the Purple Eagles went on a five point run started off by a kill from Lee and capped off with a kill from Wronska.

Niagara stretched their lead to 18-15 with kills from Wilkes and Tolliver. Merrimack answered back with four straight points of their own to take the lead back 21-19.

The Purple Eagles closed out the set 26-24 with a kill from Tolliver and a block from Wilkes.

Lee led Niagara with four kills in the second set and Blessing added eight more assists.

Set Three

The Warriors got out to a 5-1 lead with Tolliver getting the lone point for Niagara with a kill.

The Purple Eagles took a 12-7 lead with eight straight points with kills from Wronska and Wilkes and an ace from Noel Perkins.

Merrimack tied the game up four times with the Purple Eagles bouncing back each time before the Warriors finally took the lead and grabbed set three 25-22.

Wilkes led the Purple Eagles with five kills in the set, while Perkins led for the first time in the contest with five assists.

Set Four

Merrimack once again got out to an early lead 6-2 before Niagara put together four straight points to knot the set up with kills from Lee and Wilkes and an ace from Perkins.

Niagara took a commanding 13-8 lead led by three kills from Wilkes and multiple attack errors from the Warriors.

The Purple Eagles scored six straight points with kills from Wronska, Lee and Taylor Jenkins to extend their lead to 23-12.

The Warriors tried mounting a comeback but Wilkes ended the set with a kill and Niagara held on 25-16 to force a fifth set.

Wilkes once again led the Purple Eagles in kills with four in the set, Perkins added four more assists to her total.

Set Five

Niagara started out the final set with four straight points to take an early lead with kills from Lee and Katie Jacobs.

The Purple Eagles held onto the lead the entire set to garner their fourth victory of the season.

Wilkes and Jacobs both recorded three kills a piece in the deciding set.

Game Notes

Niagara is now 2-1 all–time against Merrimack

Wilkes recorded a career-high 17 kills in the win

Lee also recorded a career-high with 11 kills in the victory

Blessing has recorded double-digit assists in each game this season with 20+ in six

Up Next

Niagara returns to action Oct. 4 to face Quinnipiac at 1 pm in Hamden, CT