Niagara Tops Siena, 3-2, in 2009 MAAC Volleyball Semifinal
MAAC Sports
Buffalo, N.Y. - Second-seeded Niagara University earned a 3-2 victory over third-seeded Siena College in the second semifinal match of the 2009 MAAC Volleyball Championship at the Koessler Athletic Center on the campus of Canisius College.
The Purple Eagles (22-8, 14-4 MAAC) took the first set, 25-18, while the Saints (15-13, 13-5 MAAC) won the second set, 25-22. Niagara took a 2-1 lead with a 25-20 win in the third set, but Siena tied it up again in the fourth set with a 28-26 win. The fifth and deciding set went in favor of the Purple Eagles, 15-10, as the squad earned their first spot in the MAAC Volleyball Championship match since 1993.
Kari Honomichl recorded 22 kills in the win for Niagara, while fellow teammate Hannah Hedrick posted 21 kills and 20 digs. Michelle James finished the night with 57 assists.
Aubrey Bobo paced Siena with 23 kills. Burgandy McCurty added 17 kills and eight digs for the Saints.
Niagara will play fourth-seeded Marist College in the championship match on Monday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m., live on ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network. The winner of the 2009 MAAC Volleyball Championship will earn an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship.