NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (3-13, 1-8) returns to the road for a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matches this weekend when it has re-matches with Loyola College (5-16, 3-4) Saturday at 2 p.m. and Rider College (6-11, 4-4) Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

The Purple Eagles enter the weekend on a two-match losing streak after dropping a four-game match in front of 407 fans to cross-town rival Canisius College Wednesday in the legendary Gallagher Center. Niagara was without the services of sophomore Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) in the match.

For the season, Piette still leads the team in kills per game (2.92) and hitting percentage (.244). Junior Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y.) tops the squad in kills (146) and is hitting .208. Defensively, junior Sara Mancini (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) is averaging 4.61 digs per game and senior Annie Wachob (Buffalo, N.Y./Mount St. Mary’s) tops the team in solo blocks (10), block assists (24) and total blocks (34).

Senior Jessica Piscitelli (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) has 40 service aces and needs three to move into Niagara’s single-season, top-five list. The NCAA leader in aces per game (0.82) is also just 21 aces shy of the top five on the Purple Eagle career chart.

Loyola enters Saturday’s match on a two-match losing streak after dropping road matches at Saint Peter’s and Fairfield last weekend.

The Greyhounds, who sit in a tie for sixth in the MAAC, are led by Blair Snyder. The senior outside hitter tops the squad with 3.04 kills per game and 3.23 digs per game. Karlee Woodward is hitting a team-best .259 and Kim Burton leads the team in blocks (37).

In the first match this season, Niagara lost in four games to Loyola on Monteagle Ridge. Piette put down 24 kills and hit .309 for the match.

Rider snapped a two-match losing streak with a 3-1 win over Marist last week. The Broncos are also tied for fourth in the MAAC.

Rider is led by Megan Smith who averages 3.29 kills and is hitting .276. Defensively, Amy Jeary is averaging 3.79 digs a game and Brittany Hayes has a team-best 39 blocks.

In the previous meeting with the Broncos, Niagara lost in five games with Piette collecting a match-high 21 kills and junior Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) and Lawrence each having a season-best 17 kills.

In the all-time series against Rider, Niagara has an 8-3 lead, and vs. the Greyhounds, the Purple Eagles trail, 10-9.