Fairfield, Conn. - Niagara volleyball fell to Sacred Heart in four sets 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 24-26, 19-25) Saturday night at the William H Pitt Athletic Convocation Center.

Set One

Niagara got on the board first with a kill from Payton Lee, then grew their lead to 4-1 with another kill from Lee and a kill from Janiah Robinson.

The Pioneers battled back to knot the game up at seven and the teams traded points until the media timeout with Sacred Heart leading 15-14.

Out of the media break the Purple Eagles came out with four straight points with a kill and ace from Kinga Wronska to take a 18-15 lead.

Niagara didn't look back, not giving up the lead the rest of the set, securing the victory 25-21.

Set Two

The Purple Eagles built an early 3-0 lead off of Pioneers errors, but Sacred Heart answered back to take a 4-3 lead.

Once again the teams battled back and forth trading points with neither team really able to get a run going until Niagara put a three point stretch together led by a kill from Liana Tolliver to gain a 11-9 lead.

The Pioneers responded quickly with a three point run of their own to take a 12-11 lead, which grew to 15-13 when the media timeout hit.

Sacred Heart rallied away the rest of the set to take it 25-18 and knot the game up at one set a piece.

Set Three

Niagara once again got out to an early lead, taking a 5-2 advantage all off of Sacred Heart errors.

Sydney Wilkes got the Purple Eagles their first kill of the set to grow their lead to 8-6, but the Pioneers put together six of seven points to take a 12-9 lead.

Niagara battled back to take a 15-14 lead with kills from Wronska, Wilkes and Perkins as well as a service ace from Perkins.

Both teams traded points the rest of the set until Sacred Heart was able to garner the final two points of the set to take it 26-24.

Set Four

The Purple Eagles got out to a 4-2 lead to start the final set behind kills from Liana Tolliver and Robinson.

Sacred Heart scored six straight points to take the lead and gain a 11-8 advantage and force Niagara to call a timeout.

Niagara stayed in the game, battling back to take a 17-15 lead with kills from Lee and Tolliver.

The Pioneers went on to score the final nine points of the contest and take the final set 25-19.

Game Notes

Niagara is now 1-2 all-time against Sacred Heart

This was the first time the Purple Eagles played the Pioneers on the road

Wilkes led the Purple and White with 11 kills

Schaefer had a game-high 23 digs

Robinson recorded six blocks to take her season total to 81

Up Next

Niagara returns home for the final time during the regular season to take on Quinnipiac Friday November 14 at 6 pm inside the Gallagher Center