Senior Jennifer Handsford

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After a 12-match road swing, the Niagara University volleyball team (8-5) returns to the friendly confines of the legendary Taps Gallagher Center this weekend when it hosts St. Francis (Pa.) and Robert Morris. The Purple Eagles and the Red Flash meet Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and the Colonials take the court Sunday at 1 p.m.

Niagara is 2-1 in the Gallagher Center this season, and will be looking to register two wins that would put it over the 10-win plateau for the first time since 1998.

The Purple Eagles enter the weekend on a three-match winning streak after capturing its second non-conference tournament of the season last weekend. They beat St. Francis (Pa.), Robert Morris and Coppin State in four games at the Red Flash Invitational.

Seniors Stephanie Hopkins (Tonawanda, N.Y./Sweet Home), Erin Graham (Oakville, N.Y.) and Micole Daluisio (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) were named to the all-tournament team, while Graham also picked up the Niagara Athlete of the Week honor and Daluisio the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor.

Senior middle hitter Karen Simpson (Rochester, N.Y.) leads the team in hitting (.243) and blocks (52) while Hopkins tops the squad in kills per game (3.39) and is second in digs per game (3.53). Daluisio leads the team and is second in the MAAC in digs per game (5.14).

St. Francis (Pa.) enters the tournament on a two-match losing streak and has lost nine of its last 10 matches. The lone win came against Coppin State in the Red Flash Invitational Sept. 24. In their most recent outing, the Colonials dropped a four-game match to Bucknell on Tuesday.

Three players are averaging 2.0 kills-or-more this season for St. Francis (Pa.), including freshman Kristin Buter with a team-best 3.11. The outside hitter, who was named to the Red Flash All-Tournament Team, is also hitting a squad-leading .154 and is digging 3.05 attacks a game.

Robert Morris has won three of its last five matches, going 2-1 at the Red Flash Invitational last weekend and beating Loyola in three games Tuesday.

The Colonials are led by junior middle hitter Janette Schneider who is hitting .360 and averaging 2.69 kills per game and 1.20 blocks an outing. Sophomore outside hitter Emily Wolthuis leads the team in kills per game (3.23) while freshman libero Alaina Gibson tops the squad in digs per game (5.27).