Siena

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Marist

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After collecting a pair of victories to close out the 2017 home schedule, the Niagara Purple Eagles will hit the road this weekend for a pair of matches. Niagara will battle Siena on Nov. 4 at 12 p.m. before playing at Marist on Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.

Purple Points

• Niagara has clinched a spot in the six-team MAAC Tournament with its win over Manhattan on October 29.
• The Purple Eagles are 15-8 overall and sit in second place in the MAAC with an 11-3 record for their best conference start since 2012.
• Niagara finished their home schedule with a record of 8-1, their second best home record in a season.
• NU ranks 17th in the NCAA in total attack per set (38.59) and 18th in digs per set (17.57).
• The Purple Eagles are first in digs per set (17.57) while second in the MAAC in assists per set (11.36), opponent hitting percentage (.163), and total digs (1,511).
• Rylee Hunt is FOURTH in the nation in digs per set (6.05) and 16th in total digs (520).
• Five Purple Eagles rank in the top-10 in MAAC categories: Rylee Hunt leads the MAAC in digs per set (6.05), Draik Banks is first in the conference in hitting percentage (.313), Nicole Matheis is eighth in kills per set (2.72), seventh in points per set (3.18)d and 10th in digs per set (2.89), Rachel Hall is ninth in assists per set (5.15), and Emilie Wright is 10th in aces per set (0.32).

 
Three Time's A Charm

• For the third consecutive week and the fourth time this month, senior Rylee Hunt was named MAAC Libero of the Week for the seventh time this season announced on October 31.
• Hunt led the Purple Eagles with 5.27 digs per set in three matches last week. 
• Hunt's seven MAAC Libero of the Week awards are the most in any category in the MAAC database since 2011.

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 2,183 and third in digs per set with 5.03. 

 
Milestone Watch

• Three Purple Eagles have come into 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 third on the all-time assists list with 3,287 and is just two behind Jennifer Hansford ('05) for second.
• Rylee Hunt is second on the all-time digs list with 2,183. She is 223 away from tying Sam Morgan ('11) for first place.
• Nicole Matheis  is fifth on the all-time kills list with 1,188 kills and is eighth on the digs list with 1,232, just 23 away from tying Jodie Bowers ('00) 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.

 
Across The Net
Siena Saints (5-19, 5-8 MAAC)

• The Saints are coming off a pair of victories on the road last weekend, defeating Saint Peter's on Oct. 28 and Rider on Oct. 29, both in four sets.
• Leaders: Dakota Jackson and Nicole Deobler (2.38 kills per set), Jessica Eblin (8.53 assists per set), Jojo Ishida (3.52 digs per set), Sam Pethokoukis (0.72 blocks per set),
• The Saints currently lead the all-time series, 28-15. Niagara will look to sweep Siena for the first time in program history since the home-and-home series started in 2006, while looking for its first win at Siena since 2011. 

 
Marist Red Foxes (12-13, 9-5 MAAC)

• The Red Foxes split a pair of matches on the road last weekend, the Red Foxes fell on Nov. 1 to Fairfield on the road in four sets, 3-1.
• Leaders: Nikki DeSerpa (3.09 kps), Taylor van der Biezen (8.82 aps), Katie Brierley (3.34 dps), Ashton Korona (1.16 bps)
• The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series, 24-15. Niagara defeated Marist at home on Sept. 23 in five sets, and will look for their first sweep in the series since 2012. 

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.