Saint Peter's - Live Stats | Rider - Live Stats / Live Video

Coming off an impressive performance en route to winning the Hartford Invitational, the Niagara Purple Eagles open up Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play. Niagara will start the weekend on Saturday at Saint Peter's at 3:00 p.m. before competing at Rider on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
 
Purple Points

• The Purple Eagles won the Hartford Invitational last weekend, their first invitational title since 2009. They claimed victories, both in four sets, on Sept. 8 against Hartford and Central Connecticut State, before defeating NJIT in straight sets on Sept. 9. Two-time reigning MAAC Libero of the Year Rylee Hunt was named the tournament's MVP and teammates Nicole Matheis and Rachel Hall were both selected to the all-tournament team.
• Niagara is first in the MAAC in digs per set (17.44), second in opponent hitting percentage (.192) and third in assists per set (10.38).
• Hunt, who was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Team, currently leads the team and the conference with 6.06 digs per set; she is also SEVENTH in the NCAA in digs per set. Her 37 digs against Central Connecticut State currently ranks number one in the MAAC for digs in a match this season.
• One of five newcomers to the program, Jaycie Roberts is making her presence already known on the court. Roberts is currently second on the Purple Eagles in kills per set (2.12) and in digs per set (3.09), good for eighth and seventh in the MAAC, respectively.
• Rylee Hunt and Jaycie Roberts earned MAAC weekly awards on Sept. 12. Hunt was named MAAC Libero of the Week of the second straight week, while Roberts was named MAAC Rookie of the Week.

Milestone Watch

• Three Purple Eagles have come into their senior seasons eyeing program records and milestones
• Alexis Gray is 12 aces from tying Kari Honomichl ('12) as the career leader in aces.
• Rylee Hunt is now second on the all-time digs list, passing Micole Daluisio ('05).
• 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 1,038 kills, passing Raelen Rush for sixth on the all-time list. Matheis has also crossed the 1,000-dig plateau to become the second Purple Eagle (Hannah Hedrick) with over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.

 
Hunt Among The Nation's Best

• Rylee Hunt ranks in the top-10 in two NCAA active career categories.
• Hunt is third in digs with 1,850 and fifth in digs per set with 4.88

Across The Net
Saint Peter's Peacocks (0-9, 0-0 MAAC)

• Saint Peter's is looking for its first win of the season, most recently falling in straight sets to Fordham on Sept. 5.
• Leaders: Alexus Sharp (1.97 kills per set and 0.69 blocks per set), Wildalys Soto (3.85 assists per set), Karla Seda (2.96 digs per set)
• The Peacocks currently lead the all-time series, 22-21. Niagara has won the last six matches in the series dating back to the 2014 season.
   

Rider Broncs (4-6, 0-0 MAAC)

• The Broncs participated in last weekend's 12^th Annual Friar Classic in Providence, RI, where they played in four matches. They picked up wins against St. Francis Brooklyn and Fairleigh Dickinson, while falling to Providence and Holy Cross.  
• Leaders: Hailey Riede (2.44 kps), Veronica Koval (7.97 aps), Emma Aldaya (4.11 dps), Perry Williams (0.88 bps)
• The Purple Eagles currently lead the all-time series against the Broncs, 20-12. Last season, the teams split the series, with both teams winning on their respective home courts.   

 
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