NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball team opens its 2010 home schedule with a Big 4 match against the Buffalo Bulls on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Purple Eagles will have their 2009 NCAA Tournament banner ceremony prior to the start of the match. Niagara set a program record with 23 wins en route to claiming its first-ever MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

NU enters its home opener 2-1 on the season after beginning its campaign participating at the La Salle Invitational in Philadelphia last weekend. The Purple Eagles coasted to two-straight wins over Hartford (3-0) and La Salle (3-0) before falling versus Valparaiso 3-1 in the title match.

Niagara placed junior setter Michelle James and junior libero Sam Morgan on the all-tournament team.  James, the 2010 MAAC Co-Preseason Player of the Year, recorded three-straight matches with 30-plus assists and leads the MAAC in assists per set (10.5). Morgan extended her NCAA-best double-digit digs streak to 65 matches after pulling in 63 digs over three matches; she also leads the MAAC in digs per set (6.30). Morgan earned the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week award for her efforts.

The Purple and White also had solid contribution from several Purple Eagles. Sophomore outsider hitter Amanda Wilken led the team in kills (33), kills per set (3.30) and hitting percentage (.347) this past weekend. Wilken had a game-high 10 kills in Niagara’s 3-0 win over La Salle and a team-high 14 kills against Valparaiso in the title match.  Wilken is second in the MAAC in hitting percentage. Freshman right side Ellen Senf had a strong opening weekend as a Purple Eagle. In three matches she had 24 kills, a .233 hitting percentage, five digs and three blocks. 

As a team, Niagara is setting the pace in team statistics in the conference. Niagara is first in hitting percentage (.233), assists per set (12.70), kills per set (13.90), digs per set (19.10) and opponent hitting percentage (.121).

Niagara’s two all-time wins against UB (2-1) has come in the last three seasons. Niagara defeated UB, 3-1, in the last meeting at the Gallagher Center on Sept. 18, 2008.