Schedule 

NIAGARA UNIV., NY- The Niagara University volleyball program has released its 2015 schedule. The challenging schedule includes matchups against teams from the Big East and West Coast Conference while facing four opponents for the first time.

The Purple and White start the season with three in-season tournaments beginning at the Wright State Invitational where they will play the host Wright State on Aug. 28 followed by Evansville and Tennessee State on Saturday, Aug. 29.  

NU will then play at the Rose Hill Classic hosted by Fordham University from Sept. 4-5. The Purple Eagles will face Fordham and Robert Morris on Sept. 4, and Georgetown on Sept. 5. Niagara's final invitational will be at the Grand Canyon Tournament hosted by Grand Canyon University. The Purple Eagles will play Gonzaga and Southern Utah on Sept. 11 while facing Charleston Southern and the host on Sept. 12.

"This year's schedule will challenge us in many ways," said third-year head coach Vilis Ozols. "In our preconference schedule, we'll open with three road tournaments and play ten teams from ten different conferences including a west coast swing against several tough opponents. It is a fair, but tough schedule that will require our team to play well for us to succeed. There are no free rides in this schedule, but it will hone this group for MAAC play."

Niagara opens its home slate with conference openers against Fairfield (Sept. 19) and Quinnipiac (Sept. 20).

NU's first MAAC road trip will be against Iona (Sept. 26) and Manhattan (Sept. 27).  NU returns to Monteagle Ridge for a three-match homestand versus Siena (Oct. 3), Marist (Oct. 4) and archrival Canisius (Oct. 10). The Purple Eagles will then play at Rider (Oct. 17) and Saint Peter's (Oct. 18) before hosting Manhattan (Oct. 24) and Iona (Oct. 25).

NU will venture on a five-match road trip from Oct. 28 to Nov. 8 to wrap up its road schedule against Canisius, Quinnipaic, Fairfield, Marist and Siena. Niagara finishes the regular season at home versus Saint Peter's on Nov. 14 and Rider on Nov. 15. The MAAC Tournament will run from Nov. 20-22.  

"The MAAC schedule is always daunting," Ozols said. "We'll open against recent two-time champion Fairfield at home and play the top four conference teams from last season in the first three weekends of play. The two mid-season home and away matches versus Canisius are always a highlight and I suspect these will be tightly contested affairs again this year. We are certainly looking to build on the successes and growth from last year and this schedule will demand a lot of this squad."

Last season, the Purple Eagles had a 10-win improvement which was the 10th best increase in the nation and the largest increase by a MAAC team since 2010. The Purple Eagles return nine letterwinners including MAAC All-Rookie Team members Alexis Gray, Nicole Matheis and Rylee Hunt.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for volleyball updates at @NiagaraVB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.