Lawrenceville, N.J. — Karlotta Kattai had 14 kills and five service aces, but Niagara couldn't carry its second-set surge into the rest of the match and fell 16-25, 25-19, 12-25 18-25 to Rider on Saturday at Canastra Hammer Arena.
The Purple Eagles fell to 1-12, 0-5 Metro, while the Broncs improved 3-11, 2-3 Metro.
First set 16-25
Niagara hung with Rider early, never trailing by more than a point through the first 10-10 tie, and it led 10-9 after a kill by Kaitlyn Doyle. Rider then reeled off six straight points, with Olivia DeSaro serving the last five. Niagara never got closer than four points again. Rider closed the set on a 4-0 run from 21-16 to take the first set 25-16.
Second set 25-19
Niagara regrouped in the second set behind Kattai. Rider led 10-5 after a 4-0 run and back-to-back aces by Katie Cook, but the Purple Eagles answered with a 6-0 run. Kattai served five straight points to flip the score to 11-10. Kills by Goolsby and Natasa Ljubicic, two of Kattai's aces and a Rider attack error did the damage.
The set was tied three more times, the last at 14-14. Niagara never trailed again and led by as many as six. Kattai served the final push, with an ace, a Ljubicic kill and another ace turning a 20-18 lead into 24-18, and a Rider service error ended it at 25-19.
Third set 12-25
Niagara led once in the third set, 3-2, before Rider took over with a 4-0 run and never looked back. Rider's 6-0 spurt, with DeSaro serving again, turned a 14-7 lead into 20-7 Rider served five aces, including two straight. The Purple Eagles had a solo block by Ljubicic and kills from Doyle, Goolsby and Ljubicic.
Fourth set 18-25
In the fourth set Niagara trailed 10-6 before a 4-0 run tied it at 10-10. Goolsby had a kill, Paisley Ka'ahanui served an ace and Doyle added a kill. The score was tied again at 11-11 after a Rider attack error. Rider answered with a 4-0 run of its own, and two of its points were aces. The Purple Eagles got within three points four more times, the last at 16-19, but couldn't get closer. DeSaro served a 3-0 run, and Rider led 23-16. Jakayla Brown and Kattai combined on a block to make it 23-18, but an attack error gave Rider a 24-18 lead, and Bonacci's kill ended the match.
Game Notes
Niagara is now 24-25 all-time against Rider
Kattai recorded a season-high 14 kills for the fourth time this season
Doyle and Ljubicic both recorded a career-high with eight and five kills respectively
Ashley Moreland tallied a career-high 16 digs
Kattai served a career-high five aces
Up Next
Niagara stays on the road to face Manhattan Friday October 9 at 7:00 pm in Riverdale, NY
