NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Looking to snap a four-match losing streak, the Niagara University volleyball team (2-7, 0-2) hosts its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matches of the season in the legendary Taps Gallagher Center when Rider University (3-8, 1-1) and Loyola College (3-13, 1-1) are in town this weekend. The Purple Eagles host the Broncos at 2 p.m. Saturday and the Greyhounds at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Niagara is coming off a 30-26, 30-22, 30-26 loss to Buffalo on Tuesday. Sophomore Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) led the team with nine kills and hit .353 in the match. Senior Jessica Piscitelli (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) had a match-high four aces to give her 30 aces this season, surpassing her previous single-season best of 28 set in the 2003 season. Piscitelli and junior Sara Mancini (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) each had 10 digs to lead Niagara.

Junior Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y.) continues to lead the team, averaging 2.59 kills per game. She also has a .282 hitting percentage and 14 blocks. Classmate Mallory Boron (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) is averaging 8.12 assists and 2.16 digs a game.

Niagara is hitting .083 and averaging 11.14 kills, 13.90 digs and 1.17 blocks per game.

Rider enters the match having lost three of its last four matches, including a 3-1 match to Fairfield Sept. 16. The Broncos are led by Megan Smith who averages 3.35 kills and is hitting .303. Defensively, Lacey Johnson is averaging 3.79 digs a game and Brittany Hayes has a team-best 24 blocks.

Rider is hitting .131 and averaging 13.33 kills, 19.28 digs and 1.29 blocks.

Loyola, which has won once in the last seven matches, is also coming off a loss. The Greyhounds fell 3-0 at Towson Tuesday.

Karlee Woodward leads the team with a .280 hitting percentage and 59 blocks. Blair Snyder is averaging 2.93 kills while Kimi Gabriel is posting 3.84 digs a match.

Niagara is currently tied for ninth in the MAAC while Rider and Loyola are in a four-way tie for fifth.

In the all-time series against Rider, Niagara has an 8-2 lead after winning last season, 3-1. The all-time series is tied with the Greyhounds at 9-9. Last year, Niagara swept Loyola in three games in the regular-season finale.