NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Looking to snap a five-match losing streak, the Niagara University volleyball team (2-9, 0-4) takes to the road for a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matches this weekend. The Purple Eagles meet Fairfield University (6-6, 3-0) Saturday at 6 p.m. and Saint Peter’s College (5-10, 1-3) Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Purple Eagles are currently in last place in the MAAC while the Stags are in second the Peahens are in a tie for eighth place with Manhattan College.

Niagara is led by sophomore Nicole Piette (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) who has a team-leading .262 hitting percentage. She is also averaging 2.81 kills and 0.46 blocks per game. Fellow middle hitter Maurin Lawrence (Corfu, N.Y.) is averaging a team-best 2.84 kills and 0.55 blocks per game. Junior Raelean Rush (Amherst, N.Y./Sweet Home) is the third Purple Eagle averaging over two kills per game (2.70) and she is second on the team in digs per game (3.30).

Junior Sara Mancini (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) continues to lead the squad on defense, averaging 4.49 digs a game. Senior Jessica Piscitelli (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) continues to lead the country for a second week in aces per game (1.03). The setter broke her own single-season mark with nine this past week and needs eight to move into Niagara’s single-season top five.

As a team, Niagara is hitting .102 and averaging 12.37 kills, 2.21 aces and 15.66 digs per game.

Fairfield, the defending regular-season MAAC champion, enters the weekend on a three-match winning streak after knocking off Rider, Saint Peter’s and Manhattan to open league play.

The Stags are led by outside hitter Lindsey Lee with 4.32 kills per game, a .286 hitting percentage and 4.29 digs per game. Katie Mann tops the team with 1.08 blocks per game and setter Barbie Thistle is averaging 11.58 assists per game.

As a team, Fairfield is hitting .235 and averaging 15.05 kills and 17.29 digs per game.

Saint Peter’s enters the week with a seven-match losing streak after being beaten by Fairfield, Siena and Marist to open conference action.

The Peahens are led by Serra Soylu, averaging 3.57 kills, 0.86 blocks and hitting .296. Katherine Sura leads the squad in digs, averaging 2.52.

As a team, Saint Peter’s is averaging 11.40 kills, 13.84 digs, and hitting .171.

The Peahens play Coppin State and Wagner on Friday and Canisius on Saturday before meeting Niagara.

Niagara trails in the all-time series with Fairfield, 14-3, and with Saint Peter’s, 16-5. Last year, the Purple Eagles beat Saint Peter’s, 3-0, but lost to Fairfield twice, 3-0 during the regular season and 3-0 in the league tournament. The last time Niagara beat the Stags was 1995 in the Gallagher Center.