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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara volleyball program will host crosstown rival Canisius on Wednesday at 6 p.m. as the Purple Eagles put their eight-match win streak against the Golden Griffins on the line.

Niagara (9-10, 6-3 MAAC) handed Canisius (11-8, 8-1 MAAC) first conference loss of the season when the Purple Eagles won in four sets 10 days ago.  The Purple Eagles, who had their three-match win streak snapped on Sunday, are in fourth place heading into Wednesday’s match.

NU has been paced by the trio of Kari Honomichl, Ellen Senf and Michelle James all season. Honomichl recently became the program’s all-time aces leader and moved into third in career kills. The senior from Petersburg, Mich. has recorded a double-double in six straight matches and is second in the conference in kills per set (3.65). Senf is ninth in the MAAC in hitting percentage (.285) and 10th in kills per set (2.85), while James is fourth in assists per set (9.38). Not be left out of the mix is freshman Taylor Edmonds who has skyrocketed to 18th in the nation in aces per set (.45). As a team, NU leads the MAAC and is 54th in the nation (1.44).

Canisius sits a top of the MAAC with an 8-1 mark. The Golden Griffins, who are off to their best start in MAAC history, won their last two matches after dropping their match to the Purple Eagles. Canisius is led by senior Samantha Good leads the team and is seventh in the conference in hitting percentage (.294) and senior Allyson Severyn who was recently named MAAC Libero of the Week.

Wednesday’s match is the third Battle of the Bridge contest of the early season. NU leads 3-0 after wins in volleyball (one point) and men’s soccer (two points). Canisius currently is the holder of the Canal Cup.