The Niagara volleyball team is back home for two MAAC contests this weekend. The Purple Eagles will host the Loyola Greyhounds in the annual Dig Pink game on Saturday at 2 p.m. and the Rider Broncs on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The conference leading Purple Eagles have reeled off 26 straight victories against MAAC opponents, dating back to a 3-0 win over Rider on Sept. 25, 2010. Niagara has made life difficult for visiting teams to the Gallagher Center. Niagara currently has the 10th longest home winning streak in the nation and hasn’t lost a conference home match since Sept. 19, 2009 (won 20 straight).
Niagara leads the MAAC in team hitting percentage (.239) and opponent hitting percentage (.188), is second in assists (12.39 per set), kills (13.46 per set), aces (1.73 per set) and third in digs (15.97 per set). The Purple Eagles claimed another individual conference award on Monday when junior outside hitter
Kari Honomichl was named offensive player of the week for the second time in her career.
Senior libero
Sam Morgan’s 5.9 digs per set lead the conference and are sixth in the nation, while freshman setter
Nicole Bayer’s 10.9 assists per set are tops in the MAAC and 32nd nationally. Senior outside hitter
Hannah Hedrick is fourth in kills per set (3.66) and third in points per set (4.01) and classmate
Kathy Bibler leads the team with a .263 hitting percentage.
Saturday’s will be the annual Dig Pink match as Niagara Athletics and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital are “Partners In Pink” to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and treatments. Both teams will be wearing pink to show their support.
The Greyhounds (6-14, 3-4 MAAC) snapped a three-match losing skid with a sweep of Rider in their last match. On Sunday, NU will play a Bronc team that has dropped four straight. Niagara has swept the season series versus Loyola and Rider in the last two seasons and hasn’t lost to the Greyhounds since Oct. 2007.
Check out interviews with Kari Honomichl, who talks about winning her second career MAAC Offensive Player of the Week, and head coach Susan Clements, who discusses the Purple Eagles' success at home and in the MAAC
