NIAGARA UNIV. — The Niagara University volleyball team opened its home slate with an emphatic four-set win over local rival the Buffalo Bulls on Tuesday night.
The Purple Eagles commanded the first two sets on their way to a 2-0 lead. In the first set, Niagara broke a 17-17 tie with three straight points: a kill by Nicole Matheis and consecutive aces by Emillie Wright. NU won the set on a kill by Caroline Leitch. After trailing 3-2 early in the second set, Niagara recovered answered with a 9-1 run on its way to winning the set, 25-21 behind a match-best .323 hitting percentage.
After losing the first two sets, Buffalo came back strong to control all of the third set; Niagara climbed back from a 20-13 deficit, but the Bulls held on winning 25-23.
In an exciting fourth set with three lead changes and six ties, the Purple Eagles persevere to pull out the win. Leading 19-17, a kill by Alex Stone built a three-point advantage in which UB was unable to get any closer.
This marks the third ever win in NU program history against the Bulls and the first win since 2008.
NU Head Coach Vilis Ozols said, “I thought that was a complete team win. It was nice to see our offense come together with a really balanced attack. Alex Stone stood out offensively and against such a physical team that’s really saying something. Our defense was spectacular and tonight we showed the character of who we need to be: a very strong defensive team, a very strong serving team and a very forceful attacking team.”
The Purple Eagles start MAAC play this weekend at Siena on Saturday and Marist on Sunday. The Bulls will close out non-conference play this weekend when they head to Lewisburg, Pa. for the Bucknell Invitational. UB opens against Oakland on Friday at 5:00 pm.
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