Aug. 31

Staff Report

Starpoint graduate Mallory Boron had 37 assists in her return to the setter position as the Niagara women’s volleyball team defeated St. Francis 30-14, 30-20, 30-16 at Taps Gallagher Center in the Western New York Invitational.

It was the Purple Eagles’ first win of the season, after three losses last weekend, and the first Division I victory for coach Susan Clements.

“I think your first win anywhere is special,” Clements said. “It is something that you will remember forever. I’m just happy for the team. They’ve been working hard and they deserve every bit of this.”

Raelean Rush contributed 11 kills and seven digs. Sara Mancini had 15 digs and Maurin Lawrence added 10 kills.

Clements singled out Nicole Piette (Lockport), who had six kills and two blocks, in her post-match remarks. “Nicole had an excellent game for us,” Clements said. “She was a force on the outside.”

• WOMEN’S SOCCER: Chiara Greco scored the game-winning goal on an assist from Brittany Bisnott with 15 minutes left as the Purple Eagles came from behind to win 4-3 at UB Stadium.

“I’m extremely proud of the way our young team responded twice against a tough rival,” coach Peter Veltri said.

Bisnott, the nation’s second leading goal scorer a year ago, found the back of the net twice for Niagara (1-0). Stephanie Gartley also scored.

Greco, a sophomore, added an assist, her first career point. Freshman Ashley Mandrino also notched her first career assist. Ashleigh Bowers, a freshman, picked up the win in net, playing the second half.

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From across enemy lines

Aug. 29

Staff Report

Niagara introduced its seventh women’s basketball coach Kendra Faustin, a former Canisius assistant, at a press conference Wednesday.

Faustin, 28, spent the past three seasons working with the Golden Griffins’ post players, opponant scouting, recruiting players in the Midwest and dealing with compliance issues, according NU. Before that she was an assistant coach at Division II Hillsdale College.

“I see Kendra Faustin as a rising star in this business,” said Ed McLaughlin, the university athletics director.

Faustin replaces long-time coach Bill Agronin, who abruptly resigned last month for “personal reasons” after agreeing to a contract extension in the spring. Agronin was not present Wednesday.

“My vision for the future of Niagara women’s basketball is to have each student-athlete leave here having had the best experience possible academically, graduating, athletically, winning a MAAC championship, and personally, growing as an individual,” Faustin said in a news release.

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Dwyer to host ‘08 CHA tourneys

Aug. 28

Staff Report

The renovated Dwyer Arena will host the men’s and women’s College Hockey America tournaments in March, Niagara University announced today.

“We are extremely excited to have both men’s and women’s CHA Tournaments on our campus this year,” NU Athletics Director Ed McLaughlin said in a news release. “It gives us a tremendous opportunity to show the renovations in Dwyer Arena to hockey fans in Western New York and all across the country. We expect to provide another terrific experience and championship atmosphere for all coaches and student-athletes.

The three-day men’s tournament starts March 14, one week after the women’s tournament.

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Women’s hoops coach to be named Wednesday

Aug. 28

Staff Report

Niagara has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Wednesday to announce its new women’s basketball coach.

Long-time coach Bill Agronin resigned Aug. 1 for personal reasons.

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b>Aug. 25

Staff Report

The Niagara volleyball team lost 30-18, 30-12, 30-21 to New Hampshire on Saturday at the Colgate Classic, putting them at 0-3 on the season.

Maurin Lawrence and Raelean Rush led the Purple Eagles with five kills each. Sara Mancini had nine digs.

Niagara opens its home schedule Friday, taking on St. Francis in the Western New York Invitational.

UPDATE: Rush was named to the all-tournament team.

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Second volleyball loss includes first game victory

Aug. 25

Staff Report

The Niagara volleyball team took a small step toward respectability Saturday by winning its first game of the year but ultimately fell to 0-2 on the season with a 30-23, 19-30, 30-27, 30-16 loss to Colgate at the Colgate Classic.

At the time of this post, Niagara was playing New Hampshire in its third match of the Colgate Classic.

Raelean Rush (Sweet Home) led the charge against Colgate with nine kills and 18 digs. Lindsay Kriger and Maurin Lawrence each had eight kills. Freshman setter Shannon Ryan tallied 30 assists and 10 digs. Fellow rookie Lauren Costello had six kills, two solo blocks and eight block assists. Sara Mancini (Lancaster) added 12 digs.

Niagara got within 29-27 in the fourth game.

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Volleyball loses opener

Aug. 24

Staff Report

Niagara committed 24 non-hitting errors Friday in its 30-17, 30-26, 30-28 volleyball season-opening loss to Rhode Island at the Colgate Classic.

Nicole Piette (Lockport) and Raelean Rush (Sweet Home) each had eight kills for the Purple Eagles. Maurin Lawrence led the team with a .222 hitting percentage. Sara Mancini (Lancaster) recorded a match-high 16 digs.

The Purple Eagles (0-1) return to action at 12:30 p.m. today against host Colgate. They also meet New Hampshire at 3 p.m.

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New men’s tennis, cross country coaches

Aug. 24

Staff Report

Niagara University on Friday named former player Erick Garcia as its new men’s tennis coach and promoted Tom Mulhern from assistant coach to head coach of the cross country team, athletics director Ed McLaughlin announced.

Garcia was a four-year starter for the Purple Eagles, collecting 69 singles and 63 doubles victories. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Niagara in 2006 and is currently working toward his MBA.

A native of Oaxaca, Mexico, Garcia was an assistant tennis professional at the Niagara Tennis Academy in Niagara Falls, Ontario for five years. Garcia’s brother Walter is entering his senior year with the Purple Eagles.

Former head coach Kevin Blair will stay on as an assistant coach. Blair, a professor at Niagara, has been associated with the men’s or women’s tennis teams since 1998.

Mulhern, a Tonawanda native and St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute graduate, spent one season as a Purple Eagles assistant. Mulhern competed on four Atlantic 10 Conference champion cross country teams at La Salle and was an Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America qualifier in the 10,000 meter run in his senior year.

Former Section VI cross country chairman and Clarence High School coach Trevor White accepted the Niagara coaching position in the spring but has since decided to go back to graduate school, associate athletics director Michele Schmidt said.

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