Lewisburg, Pa.—The Niagara volleyball team closed out the road portion of their non-conference schedule on Saturday as they faced Princeton and William & Mary to close out the Bucknell Invitational. In the first game of the day the Purple Eagles fell to Princeton in three sets. In the final match of the weekend, Niagara fell in three sets to William & Mary.
Niagara vs Princeton (L, 25-18, 25-15, 25-20)
First Set
The Tigers opened up a 4-1 lead to open the match, but the Purple Eagles worked their way back into the set and tied the set at 10 after 20 points. Princeton then went on a 10-4 run and took a 20-14 lead. Niagara took four of the next nine points but could not come back as they dropped the first set 25-19.
Lexi Bapst and Kinga Wronska each had a team high three kills in the opening set while Jenna Vogen and Laryssa Imbuzeiro each had two kills. Paisley Ka’ahanui had seven assists in the set, junior Casey Brown had two assists while Bapst assisted on one kill. Imbuzeiro had one solo block while she also teamed up with Bapst for a block.
Second Set
Niagara and Princeton traded points to open the set, but the Tigers took a 13-7 lead after 20 points and then built the lead to 20-13. Niagara tallied two more points but fell in the second set 25-15.
Wronska once again had a team high three kills in the second set. Vogen and freshman Victoria Latino had two kills while Brown and Imbuzeiro each had a kill. Bella Peroni had four digs in the set along with seven receptions. Bapst had a team high nine receptions while Wronska had four.
Third Set
The Purple Eagles opened the third set on a 7-1 lead but the Tigers responded and the set was tied at 10 after 20 points. The team continued to play an even set as the teams were once again tied at 20. In the set the scored was tied eight times. With the scored at 20, Princeton tallied five straight points and won the set 25-20.
Niagara had four aces in the set, Bapst had three aces while Peroni accounted for one.
Niagara vs William & Mary (L, 25-19, 25-20, 25-17)
First Set
The Tribe opened the match with a 10-2 run, Niagara made a comeback as they went on a 14-8 run and cut the lead to just two at 18-16. The Tribe finished the set on a 7-3 run and took the opening set 25-19.
Niagara had 10 kills in the opening set with Bapst and Vogen each having three kills. Imbuzeiro and Wronska each two kills as well. Peroni and Bapst each had five digs in the set while Ka’ahanui had four digs along with three assists.
Second Set
The second set opened with the teams trading points and they were tied after 18 points at nine. Following the tie, The Tribe went on a 11-3 run and had a 20-14 lead. Niagara went on a 6-2 run as they looked to take the set, but the come back came up short. Niagara fell 25-20 and went down two sets.
Bapst and Wronska each had four kills in the set while Imbuzeiro had three kills. Ka’ahanui had seven assists in the set while Brown had five assists.
Third Set
The Purple Eagles and Tribe once again played a back and forth start to the third set as it was 9-9 after 19 points again. The Tribe once again went on a long wrong and opened up an eight point lead at 23-15. Niagara could not recover and fell 25-17 in the third set.
Bapst once again lead the way with three blocks, she also had a team high 15 receptions. Wronska had four digs while Peroni and Ka’ahanui each had three digs.
Niagara Notes
· Seven Purple Eagles had kills in the match against Princeton.
· Ka’ahanui had a team high 13 assists against Princeton.
· It was the first time that Niagara had faced Princeton in program history.
· Niagara is tied for second in the MAAC in blocks as they have 37 this season. They are averaging 1.85 blocks per set.
· The Purple Eagles have allowed just 25 aces this season is the least among MAAC teams, opponents are averaging just 1.25 aces per set.
· Imbuzeiro has 24 total blocks this season which is second in the MAAC. She had 12 blocks across three games this weekend.
Up Next
Niagara opens the home portion of their schedule as they host Purdue Fort Wayne and Kent State in the Western New York Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
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