The Canisius volleyball team fell in five sets to rival Niagara University in the Koessler Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Griffins lost 25-17, 19-25, 19-25, 25-22, 6-15 in the Battle of the Bridge contest.

Junior Lauren Siebert matched a career-high with 19 kills to go along with five blocks and a .500 attack percentage. Junior Grace Streicher had a double-double with a career-high 49 assists and 13 digs while junior Rachel Kline also posted a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Katlyn Tyler added 12 kills and senior Emily Litwin had 22 digs.

“As a team, we have to get over the hump of playing tight late in matches, especially in a five-set match,” Canisius coach Cathy Hummel said. “We've put ourselves in position to win a lot of these matches but just haven't executed in key spots. We have to continue to learn from these situations as a team as there is half of the season left.”

Canisius controlled the first set, scoring four straight points to go up 10-6 on a block from Tyler and Siebert. The Griffs never let Niagara (6-10, 2-3 MAAC) get closer than two points the rest of the way en route to taking the first set.

Niagara jumped out to quick leads in the second and third set to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Canisius used that formula to win the fourth set, building a 7-1 lead and never letting Niagara get closer than two points during the rest of the set. Litwin had 10 of her 22 digs in the fourth set.

Canisius scored the first two points in the fifth set, but Niagara scored nine of the next 10 points to build a 9-3 lead, which the Griffs couldn't overcome as the Purple Eagles went on to win the decisive set and the match.

Four Niagara players had double-digit kills with Rayenne Hale recording 18 kills. Alexis Gray had a match-high 52 assists to along with 13 digs while Amanda Sedore had 17 kills and 12 digs.

Canisius returns to the road next weekend for two matches, starting at Iona on Oct. 11. Match time in New Rochelle is set for 1 p.m.

Notes: Canisius is 0-5 this season in five-set matches... Kline and Streicher each posted their fifth double-double of the season… Siebert also had 19 kills during her freshman season at Loyola… Canisius had a team service reception percentage of .958, posting a percentage over .940 for the fourth straight match… Canisius had 10 team blocks, posting double-digit blocks for the third time in four matches… Senior Olivia Chrzanowski had 10 digs, posting double-digit digs for the fourth time in 2014… Freshman Kristin Bendy did not dress due to an upper-body injury… Niagara now holds a 3-0 lead in the early going in the Battle of the Bridge, the all-sports competition between the schools.