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Returning home after splitting a pair of matches on the road last weekend, the Niagara Purple Eagles return to the Gallagher Center for the first Battle of the Bridge contest of the season against the Canisius Golden Griffins on Thursday at 6 p.m. 
 
Purple Points

• The Purple Eagles are coming home to the Gallagher Center after spending last weekend on the road, defeating Manhattan in straight sets on Oct. 7 before falling to Iona in five sets on Oct. 8.
• The team is first in the MAAC in digs per set (16.81), while also third in opponent hitting percentage (.170) and assists per set (10.83).
• Rylee Hunt, a four-time recipient of the MAAC Libero of the Week Award, leads the conference and is fourth in the nation in digs per set (6.03), and is first in the MAAC and 19^th in the nation in digs (380). Hunt currently holds the top four performances when it comes to digs in a match this season, including when she tied her career-high with 42 against Marist on Oct. 7.
• Niagara leads the conference in digs per set (16.81) and total attacks (37.44).
• The Purple Eagles are 15-3 in the series dating back to the 2009 season and have won seven of the last eight meetings at the Gallagher Center.   

Milestone Watch

• Three Purple Eagles have come into their senior seasons eyeing program records and milestones.
• Rylee Hunt is second on the all-time digs list. Hunt is only the second Purple Eagle in program history with 2,000 digs, joining Sam Morgan (2,406).  
• Alexis Gray is six aces from tying Kari Honomichl ('12) as the career leader in aces.
• Nicole Matheis is now the seventh player in the history of the program to record 1,000 career kills. She now is currently sitting at 1,138 kills, passing Jessica Anderson ('95) for fifth on the all-time list.  Matheis is one of two Purple Eagles (Hannah Hedrick) to have over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Matheis is 9^th in career digs (1,153).

 
Hunt Among The Nation's Best

• Rylee Hunt ranks in the top-10 in two NCAA active career categories.
• Hunt is second in digs with 2,043 and fourth in digs per set with 4.97. 

Across The Net
Canisius Golden Griffins (6-12, 4-4 MAAC)

• The Golden Griffins will look to extend their current winning streak to three matches after collecting a pair of victories on the road against Iona and Manhattan last weekend.
• Leaders: Claire Leonard (2.98 kills per set), Cassidy Ceriani (8.58 assists per set), Sofia Lopez Acosta (3.85 digs per set), Sara Wesley (0.78 blocks per set)
• Niagara currently leads the all-time series against Canisius, 35-32.  

 
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