The Niagara volleyball team will play its first match of the season in Western New York when it travels to face Big 4 rival Buffalo on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Purple Eagles (5-6) head into the match after going 1-2 at the Hoosier Classic; Niagara defeated Eastern Illinois and dropped matches to Indiana and Gonzaga. Senior outside hitter Hannah Hedrick led Niagara with 46 kills and 4.60 kills per set in three matches at the Hoosier Classic en route to earning her third straight all-tournament team honor. Hedrick, who leads the conference in kills and points, needs 23 kills to tie second place in all-time kills at Niagara.

Kari Honomichl, Ellen Senf and Amanda Wilken have continued to contribute to the offense with all three averaging over 2.00 kills per set. A couple of freshmen have also stepped up for the Purple and White. Setter Nicole Bayer has filled in for Michelle James after her season-ending injury and Amanda Sedore had career-highs in kills and digs in the win over EIU.

Niagara ranks at the top in MAAC in several statistics. The Purple Eagles lead the conference in hitting percentage (.228) and second in kills per set (12.97), assists per set (12.03), aces per set (1.76) opponent hitting percentage (.220) and digs per set (16.14).

UB is 4-5 after dropping matches to Northeastern and St. John’s at the St. John’s Classic over the weekend. The Bulls have three players who are averaging over 2.7 kills per set in Abby Niekamp, Dana Musil and Liz Scott, while Dana Reinert pace the attack with 10.15 assists per set. Defensively, Carissa McKenna leads the team with 1.31 blocks per set and Kelly Svoboda leads the team with 4.12 digs per set.

Both Niagara’s wins against UB have come during the Susan Clements era: Sept. 5 2007 and Sept. 18, 2008.

The match will be broadcast by Lockport Community Television (LCTV) via tape-delay.