Friday, September 1	Eastern Illinois (2-1)	3:00 PM MT	Live Stats
Saturday, September 2	Denver (3-0)	11:30 AM MT	Live Stats
	UC Davis (3-0)	3:30 PM MT	Live Stats

 
After competing in three matches in Syracuse to open the season, the Niagara Purple Eagles continue the 2017 season at the Pioneer Classic in Denver on Friday and Saturday. The Purple Eagles face Eastern Illinois on Friday at 3 p.m. Mountain time and play two games on Saturday against Denver at 11:30 a.m. (MT) followed by UC Davis at 3:30 p.m. (MT).

Purple Points

• The Purple Eagles started the 2017 season at the Syracuse Tournament where they were fell to Colgate on Aug. 25, before dropping matches to Syracuse and Grand Canyon on Aug. 26.
• Two-time reigning MAAC Libero of the Year Rylee Hunt was tabbed to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Hunt currently holds the third and fifth most digs in a matchup for the MAAC this season, with 26 and 22 against Grand Canyon and Colgate, respectively. 
• One of five newcomers to the program, Jaycie Roberts is making her presence already known on the court. Roberts currently leads the Purple Eagles in kills per set (2.27) and is second in digs per set (3.27)

Milestone Watch

• Three seniors are eyeing program records and milestones
• Alexis Gray is 16 aces from tying Kari Honomichl ('12) as the career leader in aces.
• Rylee Hunt is third all-time on the digs list and is 66 behind second (Micole Daluisio)
• Nicole Matheis is 20 kills away from becoming the seventh Purple Eagle in program history will 1000 kills. She is currently eighth on the all-time kills list.

Across The Net
Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-1, 0-0 OVC)

• As the host of the EIU Panther Invitational to kick off their season, the Panthers were swept by Green Bay in their first match of the season before picking up wins against Memphis and Bradley, each in five sets.
• Leaders: Morgan Matusik (2.5 kills per set), Taylor Smith (5.77 assists per set), Anne Hughes (5.15 digs per set), Tina Boe (1.22 blocks per set)
• Niagara won the lone previous matchup between the programs on Sep. 9, 2011 as a part of the Hoosier Classic, 3-1.
   

Denver Pioneers (3-0, 0-0 The Summit)

• The host began their season at the College of Charleston Tournament, where they picked up wins in all three of their matches against Tennessee State, USC Upstate and College of Charleston.
• Leaders: Kayla Principato (3.82 kps), Piyusha Boteju (6.73 aps), Olivia Novotny (5.5 dps), Tina Boe (1.22 bps)
• This will be the first meeting between the programs.

 
UC Davis Aggies (3-0, 0-0 Big West)

• The Aggies opened their 2017 season at the UNLV Invitational, where they won all three matches they competed in, defeating Eastern Washington, UNLV and Binghamton.
• Leaders: Lauren Matias (2.9 kps), Maddie Merlino (5.6 aps), Malia Bolko (4.36 digs per set), Lauren Jackson (1.73 blocks per set)
• This will also be the first meeting in the history of the two programs.

 
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