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MAAC Tournament Semifinals
Saturday, November 18 - 5 pm
No. 2 Niagara Purple Eagles (18-9, 14-4 MAAC) vs. No. 3 Iona Gaels (15-17, 11-7 MAAC)
Location: Alumni Hall – Fairfield University
Broadcast: ESPN3 – JJ Duke and Allison Gaskins
 
Competing in their fourth consecutive MAAC Volleyball Championship, the second-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles will play the No. 3 seed Iona Gaels in the 2017 MAAC Tournament Semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. on the George Bisacaa Court at Alumni Hall on the campus of Fairfield University.

Tournament Time

• The Purple Eagles won three straight MAAC Tournament titles from 2009-11 to become the fourth program in MAAC history to win three straight titles.
• NU is 13-18 all-time through 16 MAAC tournament appearances since joining the conference in 1990 campaign.
• This will be the third time Niagara has been the No. 2 seed (1993 and 2009). NU won its first tournament title in 2009.
• The Purple Eagles will be making an appearance in the conference tournament for seventh time in the last eight seasons, including four straight.
• Niagara is 2-3 against Iona in the MAAC Tournament and has won the last two meetings, including defeating the Gaels in the 2010 MAAC Tournament Final.
• The winner of the match will play for the MAAC Championship on Sunday at 2 p.m.

2016 MAAC Tournament Rewind

• No. 6 seed Niagara fell to No. 3 seed Quinnipiac in five sets in the quarterfinals.
• Nicole Matheis had a match-high 19 kills and added 10 digs for her 13^th double-double of the season.
• Alexis Gray led Niagara with 46 assists and added eight digs.
• Rylee Hunt had a match-high 23 digs.

 
Five Purple Eagles Named To All-MAAC Teams

• Senior Rylee Hunt was named MAAC Libero of the Year for the third time in her career and earned All-MAAC First Team honors.
• Sophomore middle blocker Draik Banks joined Hunt on the All-MAAC First Team.
• Senior outside hitter Nicole Matheis was named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
• Freshmen middle blocker Grace Hetterscheidt and outside hitter/defensive specialist Jaycie Roberts were selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

Purple Points

• Niagara finished the regular season with an 18-8 record, including going 14-4 in the MAAC. The 18 wins are fourth most in program history and most since 2011, while the 14 conference wins are tied for third most in program history.
• The Purple Eagles are currently first in the MAAC in digs per set (17.55) and are second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage (.166), assists per set (11.26) and kills per set (11.97).
• Libero Rylee Hunt currently ranks THIRD in the nation in digs per set (6.18) and SIXTH in the nation in total digs (630).
• Hunt was rewarded with MAAC Libero of the Week Award Honors for a record ninth time this season and fifth time in the last six weeks. She is currently in the top-10 in two NCAA active career categories, where she is currently second in digs with 2,293 and digs per set with 5.10.
• The Purple Eagles are 5-1 in their last six matches.

 
Hunt, Gray Among The Nation's Best

• Rylee Hunt ranks in the top-10 in two NCAA active career categories.
• Hunt is second in digs with 2,293 and third in digs per set with 5.1. 
• Classmate Alexis Gray is fourth in career aces with 164.

 
Milestone Watch

• Three Purple Eagles entered their senior seasons eyeing program records and milestones.
• Alexis Gray became the career leader in aces on October 26, surpassing Kari Honomichl's total of 154. Gray is also now second on the all-time assists list with 3,378, passing Jennifer Hansford ('05).
• Rylee Hunt is second on the all-time digs list with 2,293. She is 113 away from tying Sam Morgan ('11) for first place.
• Nicole Matheis is fifth on the all-time kills list with 1,233 kills and is seventh on the digs list with 1,280, just 51 away from tying Allison Reis ('14) for sixth on the list.  Matheis is one of two Purple Eagles (Hannah Hedrick) to have over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career.

 
Single-Season Marks

• Rylee Hunt has set a personal-best with 630 digs, which are second most in program history.
• Sophomore Draik Banks is currently fifth in hitting percentage (.307) and sixth (91) in block assists.

Across The Net: #3 Iona Gaels (15-17, 11-7 MAAC)

• NU and Iona split their matches this season, with each team winning on its respective home court. Iona defeated Niagara on Oct. 8 in five sets, while Niagara defeated Iona on Oct. 28 in four sets.
• Niagara stands at 27-18 all-time against Iona.
• The Gaels led the conference in service aces (122) and was second in service aces per set (1.62). Iona is also third in the conference in hitting percentage (.175).
• Leaders: kills per set - Claire Archibald (3.66), assists per set - Emma Rose (8.3), and blocks per set – Shaina Campbell (0.90)

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for volleyball updates at @NiagaraVB. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.