Siena – Live Stats | Marist – Live Stats/Live Video

The Purple Eagles start conference action with matches at Siena on Saturday and Marist on Sunday.
 
Purple Points

• 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 Sept. 13.
• 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.

 
Ace Up Their Sleeves

• 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 27^th in the nation in aces (66) with Alexis Gray ranked 35^th in the NCAA with 17 aces.

 
Diggin' It

• Reigning Libero of the Year Rylee Hunt leads the MAAC with 181 total digs and is second with 4.53 digs per set.
• As a team, Niagara is second in the MAAC in total digs (88).

 
Record Watch

• Alex Stone is 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).

 
Across The Net: Marist Red Foxes (0-10, 0-0 MAAC) 

• 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.
• The Red Foxes rank eighth in the MAAC in hitting percentage (.107) and kills per set (9.83)
• Nikki DeSerpa has a 0.43 aces per set average which ranks her 71^st in the country.
• Leaders: kills per set – Kelsey Ediger (2.39), assists per set – Amanda Schlegel (6.37), blocks per set – Ashton Korona (0.91)

 
Across The Net: Siena Saints (1-8, 0-0 MAAC) 

• 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.
• Kalehua Katagiri is first in the MAAC with an average of 5.09 digs per set, and Haley Howell is second with 7.88 assists per set.
• Leaders: kills per set –Briana Flagg (2.59), assists per set – Hayley Howell (7.88), blocks per set – Sonja Vasovic (0.88).

 
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