By Jonah Bronstein
BUFFALO — The Purple Eagles made themselves a nest at Canisius on Sunday.
Wearing home whites and going against the scoreboard guests, the Niagara women’s volleyball team invaded the Koessler Center — along with a raucous cheering section of parents, alumni and a lowercase n-zone — and defeated Siena in the semifinal round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship tournament.
With the thrilling five-set victory over the four-time defending MAAC champions, Niagara advanced to the conference final for the second time in school history, and will meet Marist at 7:30 p.m. tonight for a chance to play in the NCAA tournament. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
Niagara (22-8) won the first set 25-18 and was up 14-7 in the second set before losing 25-22. After intermission, the Purple Eagles won 25-20, then came up short in a close fourth set, 28-26.
In the deciding set, Niagara jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead before letting the Saints get within 12-10. Strong kills by Hannah Hedrick and Kari Honomichl set up match point, and Amanda Wilken and Shannon Ryan teamed up for a block that put the Purple Eagles in the title game, one year after they were the youngest team in the nation and had the worst record in the MAAC.
“It was our heart,” said Hedrick, a sophomore who had 21 kills and 20 digs. “We just wanted it. We gave it everything we had.”
“We knew we had to play as a team, and that’s what we had to do all along,” said Michelle James, the MAAC’s setter of the year, who notched 57 assists.
Honomichl, a freshman who made second-team all-conference, had 22 kills, while classmate Wilken had 15. Sam Morgan had 18 digs, Kathy Bibler had seven kills and six digs, and Shannon Ryan had six kills and five digs.
“At different moments everybody stepped up,” said Susan Clements, the MAAC coach of the year. “Michelle played great. We were pushing her all match to take some risks and set some different people. Shannon played outstanding for us, defensively, offensively, blocking, she was a big role-player for us. Hannah always steps up.
“Kathy Bibler really showed up for us. We’ve missed her the last couple matches. She’s been nursing a foot injury, and hasn’t been the same, but she stepped up and gave us some great offense.”
Siena (15-13) was led by Aubrey Bobo’s 13 kills. Three-time MAAC offensive player of the year Burgandy McCurty had 17 kills and sparked the Saint’s second-set comeback when she dove into the press table to try and save a point.
Niagara, the No. 2 seed, caught a break earlier in the day when top-seeded Fairfield lost in five sets against No. 4 Marist. The Purple Eagles lost just one set in two matches against Marist (18-12) during the regular season.
“It’s going to be a tough match,” Clements said. “We’re very similar teams. We like quickness, smaller players, we both have very good setters. I think we’re at a disadvantage because we have to go to class. But it should be fun.”
