LOS ANGELES – The Niagara Purple Eagles concluded play in the LMU Invitational on Saturday where they faced the host No. 21 Loyola Marymount and the Illinois State Redbirds.
The Purple Eagles won the opening set against LMU, 29-27, before the 21st-ranked Lions reeled off three straight set wins. NU outlasted LMU in the first set that had nine ties. Niagara jumped out to a 6-3, before LMU tied the set at 9-9. A 7-0 run by the Lions gave the host a commanding lead; however the Purple Eagles stormed back into the set and eventually tied it at 20-20. The score would tie seven more times, but a service and attacking error by LMU handed NU the first set. NU held an 11-8 advantage in the second set before LMU rallied to take an 18-17 lead on their way to winning the set. LMU pulled away midway through the third and fourth sets
Niagara concluded play at the LMU Invitational with a straight set defeat to the Illinois State Redbirds. A slow offensive start to the match by the Purple Eagles saw them trail 10-3 after 13 points on their way to dropping the first set. The second set was tight throughout with nine ties and two lead changes. NU tied the set at 18-18 and later trailed 22-21, but the Redbirds scored the final three points to take set two, 25-21. NU faced an 8-7 deficit in the third set until Illinois State reeled off an 8-2 run en route to wrapping up the match.
The Purple Eagles wrap up their California trip with a match against Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday.
