NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s and women’s tennis teams return to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this weekend when they host Fairfield University and Manhattan College at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Sportsplex in North Tonawanda.

The Purple Eagle women’s team looks to snap a five-match losing streak and improve its 4-9 overall record and 2-0 mark in the league.

Freshman Victoria Tiso (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) leads the team with a 7-8 overall record, 6-5 mark in dual matches, 4-4 record at No. 6 singles and 2-0 in the conference. Sophomore Kim Roberts (Victoria, B.C.) is also 2-0 in MAAC matches and has a 5-7 dual record.

In doubles, senior Danielle Grenier (Fort Erie, Ont.) and freshman Vanja Lakic (Waterloo, Ont.) are 6-7 overall, 5-6 in dual matches, 1-0 in the MAAC and 5-6 at No. 1.

Fairfield is 6-5, 0-0 on the season. The Stags had a four-match winning streak snapped last week when they were shut out by Radford, 7-0.

Lauren Bonanno is Fairfield’s top player, sporting records of 8-11 overall and 4-6 at No. 1 singles. The Stags’ No. 1 doubles team of Alexis Accomando and Megan Stauffer are 7-2 overall, 5-1 in dual matches and 3-0 at No. 1.

Manhattan is 2-5 on the year and 0-1 in the MAAC after losing to Marist in the fall.

Last year, Niagara beat Fairfield 6-1 and shut out Manhattan, 7-0.

The Purple Eagles men’s team sports a 7-2 overall record and 2-0 mark in the MAAC.

Sophomore sensation Walter Garcia (Oaxaca, Mexico) brings an eight-match winning streak into the weekend. Niagara’s No. 1 singles player is 14-5 overall, 9-0 in dual matches and 7-0 in the top spot.

Junior Justin McConkey (Newmarket, Ont.) is 10-6 overall, 6-2 in dual matches and 4-1 at No. 4 singles. Sophomore Alex Abji (Vancouver, B.C.) sports a four-match winning streak and records of 8-5 overall, 7-2 in dual matches and 6-0 at No. 2 singles.

In doubles, Garcia and Abji are 5-3 overall and 3-3 at No. 1. McConkey and rookie Dawson Peare (Gromley, Ont.) are 4-2 overall and 3-2 at No. 2. The freshman duo of Marc Dickinson (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Steve Kopf (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) are 4-1 overall and at No. 3.

Fairfield is 4-6 on the season and opens its MAAC season Saturday. It is coming off a 6-1 win to Rhode Island on Tuesday.

The Stags are led by Jonathan Fernando who is 10-12 overall and 3-6 at No. 1 singles. He also pairs with Glen Gannon as Fairfield’s No. 1 doubles team. The duo is 3-5 overall and at No. 1 doubles.

Manhattan is 4-5 on the season and also opening its league schedule vs. Niagara. The Jaspers are coming off a 4-2 loss to Denver in Miami on Monday. The defending MAAC champions play at St. Bonaventure and Buffalo before traveling to Monteagle Ridge.

Last year, Niagara lost to Fairfield (4-3) and Manhattan (4-0) in the regular season, and then to the Jaspers in the MAAC Tournament semifinals (4-2).