Allison Leigh Sets Blocks Record, But Niagara Defeats QU Volleyball In Four Sets

Saturday, November 5

Niagara Falls, NY

1:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

19-10, 11-5MAAC

Niagara University

11-16, 9-6MAAC

Quinnipiac

Niagara University

Allison Leigh Sets Blocks Record, But Niagara Defeats QU Volleyball In Four Sets

11/5/2016 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: QU Sports Information

NIAGARA, N.Y. – Senior middle hitter Allison Leigh (Palmer, Alaska - pictured) set a new Quinnipiac Division I single-season record with her 146th block on the fourth point of the match, but Niagara went on to take a 3-1 win over the Bobcats on Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 26-24, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19 in favor of the Purple Eagles.

The loss prevents Quinnipiac from picking up its 20th win of the season, as it falls to 19-10 overall and 11-5 in the MAAC. Niagara, which swept both matches from the Bobcats this season, improves to 11-16 overall and 9-6 in the MAAC with the win, pulling within one game in the loss column of the Bobcats before facing league-leading Fairfield tomorrow. The Purple Eagles also improve to 9-0 in the series with Quinnipiac, remaining one of only two conference opponents the Bobcats have yet to defeat (along with Fairfield).

The Bobcats trailed 2-1 after three sets despite holding at least a three-point lead in each set. Quinnipiac was up 19-16 in the first set before a 6-0 Niagara run gave the Purple Eagles control. The Bobcats fought off two set points to tie the score 24-24 on a block from sophomore outside hitter Kat Miller (Collegeville, Pa.) and freshman setter Maria Pansari (Whitehouse Station, N.J.), but Niagara won the final two points for a 26-24 win and a 1-0 lead.

Quinnipiac jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead in the second set and held a 14-8 edge before Niagara went on a 5-0 run to close the gap to one. The Purple Eagles went ahead in the second half of the set before the Bobcats regrouped and Leigh led a strong close. Her solo block gave the Bobcats a 23-22 lead, and then she followed with a kill to give Quinnipiac two set points. After the Purple Eagles fought off the first one, Leigh came through with a kill for a 25-23 win and a 1-1 tie in the match going into intermission.

The Bobcats again played from in front early in the third set, jumping out to a 12-9 lead on a kill from junior middle hitter Elizabeth Kloos (Munster, Ind.). With the Bobcats ahead 15-13, Niagara used a 4-0 run to take the lead for good at 17-15. Quinnipiac had five chances to tie, beginning at 17-16 and ending at 21-20, but Niagara earned a sideout each time and then pulled away in the final points for a 25-21 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Quinnipiac led 4-1 in the fourth set before Niagara surged to a 10-7 lead. After a Purple Eagles service error, Miller accounted for five straight Bobcat points on three kills, a bock assist and a service ace to give the Bobcats a 13-12 lead. Niagara, though, took momentum back with a 4-0 run for an 18-15 lead and held on the rest of the way to finish off the match 25-XX.

Leigh finished with six blocks (two solo) to increase her total for the season to 151, after coming into the day tied with the previous record of 145 set by Shannon Dublin in 1998, Quinnpiac's first season at DI. She also added 10 kills, while Kloos led the Bobcats with 13 and sophomore outside hitter Jen Coffey (Merrimack, N.H.) added 12. Pansari had 48 assists to quarterback the offense, and Miller led the Quinnipiac defense with 19 digs, while senior defensive specialist Cody Michaels (Versailles, Ky.) added six, raising her career total to 965 with at least three more matches to try to reach 1000.

The Bobcats will try again for their 20th win of the season tomorrow, when they face Canisius for a 1 p.m. contest.