Niagara volleyball opens home slate this weekend

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

• The Purple Eagles opened MAAC play last weekend, earning their first victory of the season on Sept. 15 against former head coach Vilis Ozols and the Siena Saints. Niagara closed out the weekend at Marist, falling to the Red Foxes in straight sets.
• In the win over Siena, Jaycie Roberts recorded 11 kills and five blocks, while Cameron Maris recorded six blocks for Niagara. Alex Paris also recorded a team-leading 14 kills for the Purple Eagles.

• Caroline Leitch currently leads the team in kills with 82, averaging 2.28 kills per set.
• Jessica Streuer averages a team-high 6.44 assists per set and has 232 total assists on the season so far.
• Emillie Wright is currently tied for third in the MAAC in digs per set (4.39). The junior defensive specialist had a team-leading 20 digs in Niagara’s win over Siena.

• The Broncs opened conference play last weekend, defeating the Quinnipiac Bobcats in straight sets on Sept. 15 and falling to Fairfield in five sets on Sept. 16.
• Rider is second in the MAAC in opponent hitting percentage (.186) and blocks per set (2.0).
• Niagara leads the all-time series with Rider, 22-12, and has won four of the last five matchups with the Broncs, including both contests in 2017.

• On Aug. 25, Saint Peter’s defeated NJIT as part of the Bucknell Invitational in five sets. The win marked the first for the Peacocks since Nov. 8, 2015.
• Saint Peter’s opened conference play last weekend, falling in straight sets to Fairfield on Sept. 15 before falling to Quinnipiac on Sept. 16 in five sets.
• The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series, 23-22. Niagara has won the last eight matches.  

• Niagara takes on Manhattan (Sept. 29) and Iona (Sept. 30) next weekend. Both matches start at 1:00 p.m.