Syracuse, N.Y.  – The Le Moyne College volleyball team took down Niagara University to claim their first victory of the 2025 season on Saturday night. The Purple Eagles took sets one and two, 25-21 and 26-24, before the Dolphins fought their way to three-straight set victories; 25-17, 25-19, 15-11, to earn the match win. Le Moyne now sits 1-1 early in the season.  

The victory also marked the first for Fiona Cunningham in her inaugural season as Head Coach of Le Moyne's volleyball program. 

For the Dolphins, sophomore outside hitters Jordyn Hamlin (Manahawkin, N.J. / Southern Regional) and Denali Louden (Murrieta, C.A. / Murrieta Mesa) led the team in kills with 21 and 19 respectively, while junior opposite hitter Branwyn Lupton (Napanee, O.N. / Napanee District Secondary School) tacked on another 17 for the 'Phins.. Senior setter Haley Gerken (Buffalo, N.Y. / Frontier) registered a team-best 34 assists with sophomore setter Skylar Jehlen (Rochester, N.Y. / Churchville-Chili) registering another 24 assists in the victory. Sophomore libero/DS Brooke Menke (St. Louis, M.O. / Visitation Academy) led Le Moyne with 21 digs and three service aces in the match while Lupton and senior middle hitter Nil Ezgi Tasdelen (Izmir, Turkey/Ugur Okullari) each recorded three blocks on the defensive side. 

The 'Phins led Niagara in attack percentage (.292-.227), kills (74-56), aces (9-6), assists (72-56), and digs (69-64) through the matches' five sets. 

Liana Tolliver and Sydney Wilkes led the Purple Eagles with 13 kills apiece while Kylie Blessing put up team-highs in both assists (19) and service aces (two). Mia Schaefer added 25 digs for Niagara with Gabrielle Belony's seven blocks registering as a match-best. 

Le Moyne will head across town to Syracuse University to close out the Salt City Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Aug. 31 at 2:00 p.m.