The Purple Eagles start conference action with matches at Siena on Saturday and Marist on Sunday.
In their final non-conference regular season match of the season, the Purple Eagles defeated local rival Buffalo in four sets to open their home schedule on Tuesday. It was the program’s third-ever win against Buffalo and first since 2008.
Junior Nicole Matheis led the match with 17 kills, and was third on the team in digs with eight. Matheis also logged 18.5 points for the second highest points by a Purple Eagle this season. Rylee Hunt had a match-high and season-high of 23 digs. Junior Alexis Gray also posted a match-best of 42 assists, to go along with 14 digs for her team-leading fourth double-double of the season. Senior Alex Stone’s .550 hitting percentage is the highest by a Purple Eagle since 2014. NU improved to 2-2 in home openers under Vilis Ozols.
As one of the best teams in the nation in service aces last season, Niagara has picked up where it left off. The Purple Eagles are 27th in the nation in aces (66) with Alexis Gray ranked 35th in the NCAA with 17 aces.
Alex Stone is one block assist away from becoming the program’s all-time leader. Stone currently is tied with Amanda Wilken (’12) with 283. Stone is one total block away from tying Tricia Tracyzk (’00) for fourth in total blocks (350). Alexis Gray is eight aces away from tying Erin Graham (’05) for fifth all-time (114). Rylee Hunt is 88 digs away from tying Kelly Cruttenden (’97) for fourth all-time (1,401).
Niagara is 23-13 all-time against Marist, including falling in three sets in the MAAC Tournament Semifinals. Niagara is in search of its first win at Marist since 2012.
Niagara is 14-26 all-time against the Saints, including a three-set victory Siena in the MAAC Tournament on the Saints’ home court. The Saints are second in the MAAC in team digs with 13.75 digs per set.
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