Junior Michelle LeSouder

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (4-15, 2-2) look to snap a two-match losing streak when it hosts Manhattan (5-19, 1-2) and Saint Peter’s (5-15, 3-1) in the team’s final two home matches of the regular season.

The Purple Eagles host the Lady Jaspers at 1 p.m. Saturday and the Peahens at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Gallagher Center.

SETTING THE SCENE

With the top four teams earning bids to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament at Siena, Niagara needs to win both matches this weekend to stay in the hunt for postseason play.

After beginning the season 2-0, the Purple Eagles dropped a pair of road contests at Fairfield and Iona. Niagara is currently fifth in the league standings.

Manhattan enters the match with one victory in its last 10 outings. The Lady Jaspers split last weekend’s matches, beating Loyola in three and losing to Rider in four.

Saint Peter’s has won four of its last five matches, including victories over Loyola (3-1) and Marist (3-2).

A LOOK AT THE PURPLE EAGLES

Niagara sports a 2-0 conference record in the legendary Gallagher Center and could be at the .500 mark (4-4) with a pair of wins this weekend.

Statistically, Niagara is hitting .171 as a team and allowing opponents to hit .238. Junior middle hitter Karen Simpson is leading the Purple Eagles with a .292 hitting percentage and is second in blocks (43). Classmate Michelle LeSouder is the only other attacker hitting a .200 percentage-or-better (.286). She leads the squad in kills per game (4.04) and is third in blocks (33).

Junior Jennifer Hansford had been handling all the setting duties, averaging 9.35 assists per game. She is also one of three players digging two-or-more attacks a game (2.19).

Defensively, Niagara is digging a lot of balls. Junior libero Micole Daluisio tops the team with 4.70 a game, while junior outside attacker Erin Graham is second (2.66). Graham is also second on the squad in kills per game (3.64).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Manhattan went 1-1 in its second week of conference action. The Lady Jaspers snapped an eight-match losing streak with a three-game win over Loyola, but then lost a four-game match to Rider.

Manhattan is hitting .160, while opponents are hitting .238. Junior middle hitter Maggie Pfeifer is hitting a team-best .316, averaging 4.05 kills per game and has a squad-leading 52 blocks.

Junior outside hitter Megan O’Dorisio averages 2.52 kills per game and is second on the team in digs per game (2.57).

Saint Peter’s

After a slow start to the season, Saint Peter’s has flourished since the middle of the October.

The Peahens lost 14 of 15 matches before winning four of their last five matches. The lone loss was a four-game match vs. Rider.

Sophomore middle hitter Serra Soylu leads the team in hitting (.278) and kills per game (3.44). Junior outside attacker Gulhan Cakcak has a team-leading 34 aces and sophomore middle Sasha Pshenychka tops the team with 46 blocks.

The Peahens plays Canisius on Saturday.

SERIES RECORDS

Niagara has a lot of ground to make up in its series with Manhattan and Saint Peter’s.

The Lady Jaspers have an 11-5 series lead and the Purple Eagles haven’t beaten Manhattan since Oct. 1, 1995. Niagara lost in three games last season in Riverdale.

Saint Peter’s leads the series 15-4. Niagara last knocked off the Peahens in 2002 when it won in four games at the Gallagher Center.