Friday: Live Stats | Live Video
Saturday/Sunday: Live Stats

The Niagara volleyball team will start its 2014 season with four matches beginning on Friday, Aug. 29. The Purple Eagles will play at Colgate on Friday at 6 p.m. before playing three matches at the Big Orange Tournament hosted by Syracuse on Saturday and Sunday.

NU's first match of the tournament is on Aug. 30 against Temple at 1:30 p.m. and will face Delaware State at 4 p.m. that same day. Niagara will play Syracuse on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the final match of the tournament.  

• The Purple Eagles were picked ninth in the MAAC preseason poll after finishing the season with a 4-25 record.
• Six players return this season including the top three returners in points and kills (Amanda Sedore, Melissa McGwin, Alex Stone), the leader in assists (Logan Rae), digs (Allison Reis) and blocks (McGwin).
• Niagara will welcome six new players to the team in freshmen – Breanna DaPra, Meghan Higley, Alexis Gray, Rylee Hunt, Nicole Matheis and Rayenne Hale.
• Niagara is in search of its first season opening win since 2010 when the Purple Eagles won two straight to start the season (Hartford and LaSalle). NU won three straight to start the season in 2009.
• NU is 2-7 all-time against Colgate with the most recent meeting coming in a five-set defeat in 2010.
• NU notched its first win of the season last year against Delaware State to improve to 4-0 all-time.
• The Purple Eagles were edged in a five-set thriller to Temple last season in the first-ever meeting between programs.
• Niagara is 1-15 all-time versus Syracuse with its lone victory coming in the last meeting between the teams in Sept. 2011.