HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Niagara volleyball fell to Ohio 3-0 (10-25, 11-25, 10-25) in their second game of the Herd Classic Tournament at the Cam Henderson Center.
The Purple Eagles fell to 0-2 while the Bobcats improved to 2-0.
Set 1
Niagara stayed within striking distance early, tying the set at 3-3 on a Taylor Jenkins service-drawn service error and pulling within one at 6-4 after a Payton Lee kill off a block error. Ohio answered with a service ace from Torre Kildow and pulled away behind Bailey Blair, who piled up four kills in the set. Ohio closed the frame on a 7-2 run, capped by an attack error, to take the set 25-10. Kadence Goolsby had three kills off the bench for Niagara, while Katelynn Rottman finished with three kills of her own to lead the Purple Eagles.
Set 2
Ohio jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Rottman got Niagara on the board with a kill. The Purple Eagles hung around midway through, cutting the deficit to 12-6 on a Goolsby kill, but Ohio's Rowan Kelly and Rose Mahin kept finding openings against the Niagara block. A late 4-0 Ohio surge, featuring back-to-back kills from Olivia Gardner, closed out the 25-11 set win. Goolsby again paced Niagara offensively with four kills in the frame.
Set 3
Ohio jumped out to a 5-0 lead and later 10-1 as Mahin and Kildow combined for most of the early scoring. Goolsby provided a spark late with three kills in the set, and Chloe Moreland added a kill off the bench, but Ohio closed it out 25-10 to complete the sweep.
Niagara Notes
Niagara falls to 0-2 all-time against Ohio
Chole Moreland and Sole Rancy made their Purple Eagles debuts
Goolsby led Niagara with eight kills on a .313 hitting percentage
Setters Noel Perkins (11 assists) and Paisley Ka'ahanui (seven assists) combined to run the Niagara offense
Up Next
Niagara wraps up the Herd Classic Invitational Saturday August 29 against Bucknell at 1:00 pm.
