Thunderwolves clip Roberts Wesleyan JV in four sets for first win of season

SUNY Niagara women's volleyball recorded its first win of the season in four sets against Roberts Wesleyan JV, 20-25, 25-9, 25-18, 26-24, Wednesday in Sanborn. The victory marked the Thunderwolves' first win of the season and first at home since Oct. 5, 2024 (Jamestown CC).

For the first time since 2011, SUNY Niagara had three players record double-digit kills in a contest. Sophomore Cait Cliffe recorded a team-high 19, freshman Sariah Tindal had 13 and sophomore Alexis Majka added 12.

Sophomore Ava Gaudy recorded a double-double of 35 assists and a team-high 11 digs. Cliffe and freshman Jordan Smith had seven digs each.

Tindal added three digs and two assists to her stat-line. Freshman Nevaeh Hall had five kills and one dig. Freshman Samantha Knobloch had one dig in the win.

NOTES:

Wednesday marked SUNY Niagara's first win as a program since winning twice at the Region III pod held at Erie Community College on Oct. 19, 2024 (333 days).

The nine points in the second set by Roberts Wesleyan were the fewest SUNY Niagara allowed in a single set since Mohawk Valley recorded six in the third and final set during a Region III pod at Erie Community College on Oct. 19, 2024.

With the 19 kills, Cliffe recorded double-digits in the category for the fourth time this season and 11^th in her career. Cliffe has accomplished the feat in eight of her last 13 appearances, dating back to a 16-kill outing against SUNY Broome on Oct. 12, 2024.

Fresh off recording her 500^th career assist Saturday, Gaudy recorded just her second career double-double (35 assists, 11 digs) during the win against the Redhawks. Gaudy posted her first double-double with a 27-assist, 12-dig performance at Hudson Valley on Sept. 14, 2024. With her 35 assists, Gaudy has now recorded 552 assists in 26 contests.

After totaling 56 kills through her first 26 career contests (2.2 per contests, Majka established a career-high of 12 kills against Roberts Wesleyan. Majka's previous high was five, which she posted twice and most recently in this season's home opener versus Monroe on Sept. 4.

Tindal's 13 kills were a new career-high and the first time she recorded double-digits in any category since she had 10 digs against Jefferson on Sept. 6.

SUNY Niagara (1-6) returns to action when it competes in a Region III pod Saturday at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua. The Thunderwolves face Monroe at 11 a.m. and the host Lakers at 1 p.m. This is the third of seven Region III pods for the Thunderwolves this season.