NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (3-12, 1-7) looks to return to the win column when it hosts cross-town rival Canisius College (12-7, 6-2) Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the legendary Taps Gallagher Center.

The Purple Eagles are coming off a 1-1 weekend which included their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory of the season. They are currently in 10th place in the league standings while Canisius is third place.

Junior Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y.) continues to lead the team in kills per game (2.74) and hitting percentage (.236). The middle hitter also has a team-leading 19 block assists. Sophomore Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) is averaging 2.59 kills, hitting .228 and has 23 blocks on the season.

Junior setter Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) is averaging 9.57 assists per game while classmate Sara Mancini (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) is collecting a squad-best 4.59 digs per game. At the net, senior Annie Wachob (Buffalo, N.Y./Mount St. Mary’s) tops the team with seven solo and 17 block assists for 24 on the season.

As a squad, Niagara is hitting .107 and averages 12.63 kills, 16.0 digs and 1.47 blocks per game.

Canisius has won six of its last seven matches, including two this past weekend vs. Iona and Manhattan. Both of their losses in league play have been on the road.

The tandem of Mary Boller and Leigh Launhardt lead the Canisius squad. Boller is hitting a team-best .355 and averaging 3.70 kills and 1.28 blocks per game. Launhardt is averaging 3.21 kills and a squad-leading 1.60 blocks while hitting. .330.

As a team, Canisius is hitting .213 and averages 14.0 kills, 16.39 digs and 3.05 blocks.

In the all-time series, Niagara trails, 24-19. The last time the Purple Eagles won was a non-conference match on Sept. 7, 2002.