ESPN3 | Live Stats | Bracket

The Purple Eagles begin their quest for the MAAC Championship when they take on the Manhattan Jaspers on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. from ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
 
How to Watch

• The match will be available via ESPN3.

 
Purple Points

• Last weekend saw the team split its road trip in Connecticut by falling 3-0 to Fairfield before bouncing back and defeating Quinnipiac 3-1.
• Niagara is 5-5 in its last 10 matches with victories coming over Canisius (3-0), Iona (3-2), Saint Peter's (3-1), Marist (3-0) and Quinnipiac (3-1).
• Niagara's .349 hitting percentage on Oct. 22 against Canisius is a season-high while its nine blocks are the most in a three-set match and the seven aces are the second most in a three-set match this season.
• Niagara had 75 digs against Fairfield (Oct. 19) for the most in a four-set match this season.
• The Purple Eagles feel comfortable going to the 5th and deciding set. On the year, Niagara is 4-2 in 5-set matches.

 
Purple Eagles In The MAAC Tournament

• Niagara is making its 14th appearance at the MAAC Tournament and first since 2012.
• The Purple Eagles are 11-14 all-time while claiming the tournament title in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
• The winner will play on Friday at 8 p.m. against the Canisius/Quinnipiac vs. Siena winner. The loser will play on Friday at 2 p.m.

 
Purple Eagles in the MAAC

• Niagara is second in the conference with an average of 1.57 service aces per set.
• Freshman Rylee Hunt is third in the MAAC with a 0.37 service ace percentage.
• Freshman Alexis Gray is fourth in the conference with an average of 9.49 assists per set.
• Sophomore Alex Stone sits at fourth in the MAAC with 1.12 blocks per set.
• Freshman Rayenne Hale's .611 attack percentage on Oct. 18 against Quinnipiac is good for fifth best in the conference on the year.
• Gray's 54 assists at Colgate are the tied for the fifth-most by a MAAC player this season.
• Senior Allison Reis' 35 digs on Aug. 29 at Colgate and Hunt's 33 digs at Rider on Nov. 2 are good for third and fourth most by a MAAC player on the year.
• Hunt, Matheis (6 each at Delaware State) and Hale (6 at Rider) are tied for the most aces in a single match by any MAAC player on the season.
• Stone's 10 total blocks (1-9) at Manhattan are tied for the second-most by a MAAC play on the year and her nine total blocks (4-5) versus Gardner-Webb is third amongst MAAC players this season.

 
Purple Eagles in the NCAA

• Niagara is 18th in the nation in total aces (174) and 21st in the nation in aces per set (1.58).
• Rylee Hunt ranks 33rd in the nation in total aces (41) and 61st in the nation in aces per set (.37).
• Nicole Matheis is 73rd in aces (36).
• Alexis Gray, who leads the MAAC in assists, is 86th in the nation.
• Alex Stone, who leads the MAAC in blocks, is 58th in the nation.

 
Entering the Record Books

• Senior Allison Reis sits at fifth all-time in career digs at Niagara with 1,285.
• Melissa McGwin is 12 solo blocks away from making the top-5 in career blocks. She currently has 54.
• Alexis Gray's 1,053 assists on the year puts her sixth on the single season record list.
• Rylee Hunt is 7th on the single season record list with 482 digs on the year.
• Hunt is tied for 8th on the single season record list with 41 services aces, while Nicole Matheis is three away from cracking the top-10.

 
Across the Net: Manhattan Jaspers (20-11, 13-5 MAAC, 3^rd Place)

• Niagara trails 21-15 in the all-time series between the two schools.
• The Purple Eagles fell to the Jaspers 3-1 in both meetings on the season.
• Manhattan's most recent outing saw them sweep Iona 3-0 on Sat. Nov. 15.
• The Jaspers are currently on a 5-match winning streak.
• Leaders: kills per set – Malia McGuinness (3.74), assists per set – Tedora Peric (8.18), digs per set – Allie Yamashiro (5.06), blocks per set – Clare Bozzo (0.69)