Junior Jennifer Hansford

The Niagara University volleyball team (0-3) looks to snap a three-match losing streak when it plays Youngstown State (2-1) at 5 p.m. Friday in the first match of the Youngstown State Tournament at the Beeghly Center on the Youngstown State campus. The Purple Eagles will face Chicago State (2-3) Saturday at 11 a.m. and UNC Wilmington (2-3) at 1 p.m.

WESTERN NEW YORK INVITATIONAL

The Purple Eagles lost their first three matches of the season Sep. 3-4 in the Western New York Invitational. Niagara lost to Stony Brook and Texas Arlington in three games, and to Binghamton in four.

Junior outside hitter Michelle LeSouder averaged 17 kills per match and had three solo blocks in the WNY Invitational. Classmate Micole Daluisio, the 2003 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 17.0 digs an outing.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Youngstown State, which was picked third in the Horizon League, opened it season at the Crusader Classic in Worcester, Mass., this past weekend. The Penguins beat Holy Cross in three matches, defeated Siena in four, but lost to Radford in five.

Freshman outside hitter Jessica Fraley lead Youngstown’s attack, hitting .263 and averaging 3.33 kills a game. Three other Penguins are averaging 2.0 kills-or-better. Youngstown State is hitting .227 and digging 15.0 attack a game.

Chicago State

Chicago State enters the tournament with a 2-3 record after snapping a two-match losing streak with a 3-1 win over Lipsomb Monday.

Senior outside hitter Stacey Cole leads Chicago State in kills per game (4.78), aces (16) and digs per game (3.56). Junior middle blocker Chrissy Davis is blocking a team-best 1.06 attacks a game.

The Cougars are hitting .161 and digging 16.61 attacks a game.

UNC Wilmington

UNC Wilmington had its two-match winning streak snapped in the Summit Hospitality Classic in Raleigh, N.C. this past weekend. The Seahawks beat Wofford and UNC Ashville before dropping three games to N.C. State.

Freshman outside hitter Kate Bennett leads the Seahawks in kills per game (3.53) and digs per game (4.94). Junior middle hitter Felicity Ribalkin has a team-best .218 hitting percentage and is averaging 2.59 kills per outing.

UNC Wilmington is hitting .118 and digging 18.29 attacks a game.

SERIES RECORDS

Niagara and Youngstown State meet for the 13th time Friday. The Penguins hold a 10-2 lead in the series which began on Sept. 27, 1991.

In their last meeting, the Penguins beat the Purple Eagles in four games, 22-30, 31-29, 26-30, 22-30, in the WNY Invitational on Aug. 29. The last time Niagara beat Youngstown State was Oct. 23, 1993.

The Purple Eagles will meet Chicago State and UNC Wilmington for the first time this weekend.

RUSH NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Freshman outside attacker Raelean Rush was named to the WNY Invitational All-Tournament Team after collecting 14 kills, two aces, 15 digs and two block assists in the tournament.

CHART MOVERS

Michelle LeSouder and Micole Daluisio each moved up spots in the Niagara University record book.

LeSouder jumped into second place on the Purple Eagle’s career kills list after collecting 51 kills at the WNY Invitational. With 999 kills, she passed Kelly Cruttenden (965) and needs 130 to take over first from Jessica Anderson (1,128). With her next kill, LeSouder would also become Niagara’s second player to have 1,000 career kills.

Daluisio moved into seventh on the career digs list, passing three former players. With 51 digs at the WNY Invitational, the junior enters this weekend with 908 digs. She needs 67 to pass Kathy Au (1992-94) for sixth.

HANSFORD REACHES 1,8000 ASSISTS

Junior Jennifer Hansford became just the fourth Purple Eagle to record 1,800-or-more assists in a career.

The setter enters this weekend with 1,810 assists and needs 85 to move into third on the career chart.