DOVER, Del. --- Delaware State failed to hold leads in the first two games en route to a 3-1 loss (25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 25-19) to Niagara in a women’s volleyball contest in Memorial Hall this evening.

 The win was the first of the season for the Purple Eagles (1-12), while the Hornets dropped their fifth straight to fall to 1-9.

Alex Stone led Niagara with 14 kills, while Amanda Sedore added 12. Alex Stone led all players with 31 assists for the Eagles.

Jasmine Jackson recorded her third “double-double” of the season to lead the Hornets. Jackson topped all players with 16 kills and 12 digs in the contest.
Edarkis Branch added 13 kills, while Carey Berry tied for match-high honors with seven blocks.

In the first set, Delaware State opened up a 7-1 lead after a Niagara error. The Purple Eagles answered with a 7-1 run of their own to tie the game at 8-8.

With the match tied, 17-17, Niagara scored the next three points to take control. The Hornets pulled to within 24-23 on a kill by Jackson, but Niagara scored the final point of a game on a kill by Melissa McGwin for the win.

In game two, the Hornets scored three straight points to open up a 21-16. Niagara responded by scoring the next six points to pull ahead 22-21. The Hornets regained the lead 23-22 after a kill by Berry and a Niagara.

The Purple Eagles scored the next three points, two on Delaware State errors, to take the game and open up a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Hornets stayed alive in the match with a win in game three. Branch and Jessica Croucher had five kills each and Jae Jackson collected three blocks to key the win in game three.

Delaware State led 19-12 in the set, but the Eagles rallied to take a 22-21 lead. The Hornets scored the last four points, highlighted by a game-winning ace by Branch.

The score was 13-13 in the fourth set before Niagara took control. The Eagles scored six of the next seven points to open up a 19-14 lead.

Delaware State pulled to within three points (20-17), but could get no closer in the game.
Each team had 42 kills in the match, although Niagara had a slightly higher hitting percentage (.164-to-.137).

The Eagles held the edge in digs (39-37) and aces (14-9), while the Hornets had the advantage in assists (36-34) and blocks (24-14). DSU’s block total marked a season-high.