Cliffe records 300th career kill, SUNY Niagara falls twice in home pod Saturday

After recording a win against Jamestown CC Thursday, SUNY Niagara women's volleyball lost to Erie CC and SUNY Broome in a NJCAA Region III pod Saturday in Sanborn. This marked the fourth of seven regional pods on the Thunderwolve's schedule this season. 

Erie CC 3, SUNY Niagara 1

The Thunderwolves lost to the Kats in four sets, 25-19, 18-25, 21-25, 22-25, to begin the pod. 

Cait Cliffe recorded a team-high 15 kills plus six digs. Fellow sophomores Ava Gaudy (30 assists) and Alexis Majka (nine kills, four digs and team-high four blocks) both contributed in the performance. Sariah Tindal recorded a team-high eight digs plus seven kills. 

Nevaeh Hall had three kills and two digs. Jordan Smith had four digs and two of SUNY Niagara's five service aces. Samantha Knobloch had one assist and one dig. 

SUNY Broome 3, SUNY Niagara 0

The Hornets swept the blue-and-gold, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23. 

Cliffe recorded a team-high 14 kills while Knobloch posted a team-best five service aces. Gaudy recorded 34 of SUNY Niagara's 36 assists. Hall led all Thunderwolves with seven digs and Tindal had six kills and three digs. 

Majka had two kills and three digs. Smith added two digs. 

NOTES:

With her 15 kills against Erie CC, Cliffe recorded her 300th kill. Cliffe needed only nine kills to accomplish the feat entering the pod. The 29 combined (15 against Erie and 14 against SUNY Broome) now gives Cliffe 320 career kills plus 279 digs in 32 matches. Cliffe has recorded double-digit kills eight times this season and 15 in her career. She has now posted the feat in 12 of her last 18 matches, dating back to a 16-kill outing against SUNY Broome on Oct. 12, 2024. Cliffe is the team leader this season in kills (153) and digs (77). 

With her 34 against Erie and 30 versus SUNY Broome, Gaudy recorded her 10th and 11th career matches with at least 30 assists, including six this season. Gaudy has also recorded double-digit assists in three consecutive matches for a second time this season (Sept. 4-6). Gaudy now has 678 assists in 32 career matches.

Hall tied her season-high of seven digs during the contest against SUNY Broome. She posted the same total against Jamestown CC on Thursday.

Majka reached her career-high of four blocks against Erie CC. She accomplished this feat in a 3-1 win against Roberts Wesleyan JV on Sept. 17 and against Herkimer on Oct. 19, 2024.

Knobloch set her new personal mark of five career service aces in the match versus SUNY Broome. Her highest output was three against the Jayhawks Thursday.

SUNY Niagara (2-10, 1-2 WNYAC) continues its season versus Genesee CC at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Sanborn. In collaboration with SUNY Niagara Student Life, the program is hosting T'Wolves Tailgate during the contest. A SUNY Niagara Dry Fit T-Shirt and boneless wings are free with your Student ID.