NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champions will begin the mission for a third straight title this coming weekend, when they take part in the 2011 Blue-Gold Invitational hosted by Toledo. 

The Purple Eagles will begin the invitational by taking on Oakland at 5 p.m. on Friday, before playing the host Rockets and Wright State on Saturday.

Niagara is coming off an impressive 2010 campaign that saw them earn a 25-9 record, set school school records in regular season wins (22), conference wins (17) and match win streak (19), en route to the program's first-ever MAAC Regular Season championship (17-1) and the program's second consecutive MAAC championship and NCAA berth.

The Purple Eagles have been picked to finish atop the MAAC this season, while boasting MAAC Preseason Player of the Year setter Michelle James and Preseason All-MAAC team selections outside hitter Hannah Hedrick and middle blocker Amanda Wilken.

NU will take on Oakland on Friday, in just the third meeting between these two teams. The Purple Eagles will look to win their third consecutive season-opening match, having defeated Coppin State in 2009 and Hartford in 2010 in straight sets.

The Purple Eagles are back in action with two matches on Saturday, taking on Toledo at 10 a.m. and Wright State at 5 p.m.

Following the 2011 Toledo Tournament, the Purple Eagles will clash with Binghamton four days later at 7 p.m.