Two-Time MAAC Champs Visit Happy Valley
  The Niagara Purple Eagles will make their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament when they play at the nationally-seeded and three-time defending national champion Penn State Nittany Lions on Friday at 7 p.m. at Rec Hall. 

How To Tune In

Fans can follow all of the action on PurpleEagles.com, including the return of the “blog” which debut during last season’s NCAA Tournament appearance. Penn State will provide live stats via GoPSUSports.com The Big Ten Network will also broadcast the game via tape-delay. The match will air on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Back-To-Back

Niagara successfully defended its 2009 MAAC Tournament title by winning this year’s tournament held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The top-seeded Purple Eagles defeated eight-seeded Siena in the quarterfinals, fifth-seeded Fairfield in the semifinals and second-seeded Iona in straight sets to claim the 2010 MAAC Tournament crown. 

Twice As Nice

Niagara is making its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Purple and White never advanced to the tournament prior to last season, but won the MAAC Tournament for the first-time ever. NU was rewarded with a trip to Ann Arbor to face the No. 13 seed Michigan Wolverines.

Streakin’

Niagara is currently on a school record 19-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 10 of the last 67 sets.

Niagara’s streak ranks among the nation’s best. The Purple Eagles’ 19-match winning streak is sixth in 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), overall wins (25), longest win streak (19) and won its first regular season conference title.

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No. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions (26-5, 16-4 Big Ten)

The three-time defending national champions Nittany Lions are making their 30th appearance to the NCAA Tournament. PSU, which is ranked eighth in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll,  clinched its eighth consecutive Big Ten title with a straight set win over Minnesota on Nov. 26. PSU had its NCAA-record 109-match and 55-match road win streaks snapped by No. 2 Stanford in Gainesville, Fla. on Sept. 11.  PSU currently has a 90-match home win streak which ties an NCAA record which was set by Nebraska last season.

PSU placed three Nittany Lions to the All-Big Ten team in seniors Blair Brown, Arielle Wilson and freshman Deja McClendon. Brown was named Big Ten Player of the Year and McClendon earned Big Ten Freshman on the Year honors. Head coach Russ Rose won his 12th Big Ten Coach of the Year award.

 
Against The Field Of 64

Niagara has faced one team in this season’s tournament field. The Purple Eagles hosted the Indiana Hoosiers (21-11) on Sept. 11 and fell in straight sets. 

NU Dominates MAAC Awards

 Junior Michelle James was named MAAC Setter of the Year and freshman Ellen Senf was named MAAC Rookie of the Year.

James, who was tabbed preseason co-player of the year, earned the setter of the year award for the second straight season and led the conference with 10.11 assists per set.

Senf’s .277 hitting percentage is fourth in the conference and her .316 hitting percentage in conference matches is the highest among freshmen. She is fourth on the team with 252 kills and third in total blocks with 51.

Niagara led all teams with three players on the All-MAAC First Team. Joining James are junior outside hitter Hannah Hedrick and sophomore middle blocker Amanda Wilken. Hedrick earns first team honors for the second straight season.

Hedrick led NU and placed fifth in the conference with 3.02 kills per set. Hedrick had 330 digs and 34 service aces, both second most on the team. Wilken has the highest hitting percentage on the team, hitting at a .289 clip which places her third in the conference. Wilken was named offensive player of the week twice.

Hedrick was named MAAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the second straight season. James and Morgan also were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Sitting At The Top

NU led the MAAC in hitting percentage, assists, kills and opponent hitting percentage this season.

Attack The MAAC

Over the past two seasons, the Purple Eagles have put the MAAC on notice. NU is 23-1 in its last 24 matches against conference opponents, including going 2-0 in last season’s conference tournament and 3-0 in this season’s 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.

Final Countdown

Niagara made its second consecutive trip to the MAAC Tournament Final and third overall in program history. The Purple Eagles claimed their first-ever MAAC title last season with a 3-0 win over the Marist Red Foxes in Buffalo, N.Y.

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.

Diggin’ It

 Junior libero Sam Morgan is “diggin’ it” playing in the backrow. Morgan has accumulated double-digits digs in every match (95) she has played in for Niagara. The consecutive streak leads the nation.

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 3,566 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.

Multiple Options

Four Purple Eagles have at least 250 plus kills, which gives Niagara a plethora of options. Hannah Hedrick leads the team with 317 kills and is followed by Kari Honomichl (297), Amanda Wilken (287) and Ellen Senf (252). Kathy Bibler and Michelle James have 204 and 113 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.

Friend Or Foe

There will be a couple of familiar faces on the court when Niagara and Penn State meet on Friday. Seniors Lauren Costello and Shannon Ryan were club teammates of Penn State’s Alyssa D’Errico at VolleyFX in Rochester, N.Y. and coached by Alyssa’s mother, Cindy.

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 48-17 since 2009 and is 8 wins away from tying Barb Green’s 70 wins plateau.

For Don Clements

The team is honoring the late father of head coach Susan Clements, Don Clements, by wearing orange shoelaces on their left shoes. Don Clements passed away during the season due to complications of leukemia. Orange is the color of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The team has been active in bringing awareness to the disease throughout the season. NU partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Western New York Society to host the “Leukemia Awareness Night” on Sept. 9 and participated in the “Light the Night Walk” fundraiser in Buffalo in October.