Setting the Stage

The Niagara Purple Eagles defeated eighth-seeded Siena, 3-1, on Thursday afternoon and will now face the No. 5 seed Fairfield Stags in the 2010 MAAC Tournament Semifinals on Friday at 5 p.m. from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Niagara rallied from a set down to top Siena in a rematch of last season’s semifinal. Friday’s match will be between the last two regular season champions.

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No. 5 Fairfield Stags (12-19, 10-8 MAAC)

Niagara swept the regular season series with Fairfield for the first time in program history. On Oct. 10, NU prevailed in five sets for its first win against Fairfield since the 1995 season (21 matches). Three weeks later, the Purple Eagles had a straight-set victory in Fairfield.

Streakin’

Niagara is currently on a school record 17-match winning streak. The Purple Eagles began the run with a 3-0 win against the Rider Broncs on Sept. 25 at the Gallagher Center in their third conference game of the season.  NU swept 11 of its first 12 matches during the streak and has only lost eight of the last 56 sets.

Niagara’s streak ranks among the nation’s best. The Purple Eagles’ 16-match winning streak is seventh in the nation

Attack The MAAC

Over the past two seasons, the Purple Eagles have put the MAAC on notice. NU is 21-1 in its last 22 matches against conference opponents, including going 2-0 in last season’s conference tournament. Niagara’s torrid run through conference play placed the 2010 team in the MAAC history book. The Purple Eagles’ 17 conference wins are tied for the second most in MAAC history.

Home Sweep Home

Niagara completed its conference home schedule with a 9-0 mark and is 17-1 at home in conference play in the last two seasons, including winning 17 straight. Niagara has gone undefeated at home in conference action twice in program history, going 4-0 in the 1991 and 1995 seasons.

Sitting At The Top

NU leads the MAAC in hitting percentage, assists, kills and opponent hitting percentage.

How May I Assist You?

Junior setter Michelle James sketched her name into the Niagara history book this season. James set single-season assists records in 2008 (1,149) and 2009 (1,199) and entered the season fourth on the all-time career list. On Halloween, James surpassed Jennifer Hansford’s (‘05) total of 3,289 in NU’s five-set win over Iona. James currently has 3,490 assists in her career. James set a new match career-high with 63 assists in the five-set win over Canisius in the final match of the regular season.

Diggin’ It

Junior libero Sam Morgan is “diggin’ it” playing in the backrow. Morgan has accumulated double-digits digs in every match (93) she has played in for Niagara. The consecutive streak leads the nation.

Shattering Records

Niagara has set school records as fast as the wind blows in western New York. The 2010 team has set program records in conference wins (17), regular season wins (22), longest win streak and won its first regular season conference title.

Multiple Options

Four Purple Eagles have at least 220 plus kills, which gives Niagara a plethora of options. Hannah Hedrick leads the team with 288 kills and is followed by Kari Honomichl (278), Amanda Wilken (278) and Ellen Senf (236). Kathy Bibler and Michelle James have 188 and 108 kills, respectively.

Back For More

The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year has continued her great form this season. Hedrick claimed the weekly conference defensive accolades on Oct. 25 and has also proven to be an all-around player. She leads the team in kills, second in digs and aces, and third in assists.

Middle Ground

Middle blockers Amanda Wilken and Kathy Bibler have consistently given NU offensive and defensive sparks. Bibler is second on the team in total blocks, while Wilken is third in the MAAC in attacking percentage. 

Climbing Up The Charts

After winning a combine 14 matches in her first two seasons, Susan Clements is quickly approaching becoming the program all-time winningest coach. The 2009 National Coach of the Year by College Volleyball Update (CVU.com) is 46-17 since 2009 and are 10 wins away from tying Barb Green’s 70 wins plateau.