NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University volleyball team (4-16, 2-11) travels to the southern portion of the Empire State this weekend when it plays at Manhattan College (9-14, 6-6) Friday at 6 p.m. and Iona College (5-15, 3-8) Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Purple Eagles enter the match having gone 1-1 last weekend with a five-game win over Saint Peter’s College and a loss to Fairfield University.

Sophomore Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) leads the team in hitting percentage (.238) and is second in kills per game (2.82) and third in blocks per game (0.53). Junior Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) averages a squad-leading 2.95 kills per game and is second in digs per game (3.59).

Defensively, senior Annie Wachob (Buffalo, N.Y./Mount St. Mary’s) tops the squad with 43 blocks, including 11 solo blocks. Junior Sara Mancini (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) leads the team in digs per game (3.59).

Iona will complete a string of four matches in seven days when it hosts Niagara. The Gaels are on a three-match losing streak after losing to Manhattan Tuesday, 3-0. They will travel to Marist tonight, host Fairfield Thursday and the Purple Eagles Saturday.

The Gaels are led by seniors Megan Daily and Morgan Young. Daily averages a team-leading 3.30 kills per game while Young is hitting a squad-best .247. Defensively, Shelby Erb digs 3.94 attacks per game while Young tops the team with 0.62 blocks an outing.

Manhattan is currently in fourth place in the MAAC standings and has won three of their last four matches, including the last two.

Sherryta Stokes leads the team, averaging 3.08 kills per game. Whitney Judkins tops the squad with a .244 hitting percentage and Ashley Watson digs 4.22 attacker per game.

In the first meetings at the Gallagher Center, Niagara lost in three games to Iona, but beat Manhattan in four games.