Senior Mariam Al-Shikarchy

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After finishing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season with a 6-1 record, the Niagara University women’s tennis team earned the No. 2 seed in the 23rd annual MAAC Tennis Tournament Friday through Sunday. The Purple Eagles begin play in the opening round of the tournament against seventh-seeded Saint Peter’s at 10 a.m. Friday at the United States Tennis Association Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

If Niagara advances to the semifinals, it will play the winner of third-seeded Rider and sixth-seed Siena at 11 a.m. Saturday. The championship match is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday.

After being undefeated for two consecutive years and earning the No. 1 seed, the Purple Eagles are seeded behind Marist whom they lost to in the MAAC regular season.

The tournament is being held at the USTA Tennis Center, which includes 18 courts. The MAAC Championship will be held on six courts, excluding the stadium courts. Admission to the tournament is free and seating capacity is over 5,000.

Niagara has finished in the top 5 in four of the last six tournaments. Last year, Niagara defeated Saint Peter’s in the first round (7-0), Loyola in the semifinals (5-2), but faltered in the championship, losing 4-3 to Fairfield.

Saint Peter’s enters the tournament with a 1-6 MAAC record. The Purple Eagles and the Peahens met during the regular season on March 5. Niagara shut out Saint Peter’s 7-0 improve to 2-0 in the MAAC.

Friday, April 23

No. 1 Marist (7-0) vs. No. 8 Manhattan (0-7), 10 a.m.

No. 3 Rider (4-3) vs. No. 6 Siena (3-4), 12:30 p.m.

No. 4 Loyola (4-3) vs. No. 5 Fairfield (3-4), 10 a.m.

Saturday, April 24

Semifinal Rounds, 11 a.m.

Consolation Rounds, 11 a.m.

Sunday, April 25

3rd/4th Place, 8 a.m.

5th/6th Place, 8 a.m.

7th/8th Place, 11 a.m.

Championship, 11 a.m.