NIAGARA UNIV., NY. – Niagara volleyball head coach Donna Day has announced the team's schedule for the 2019 season.

"This team will certainly be challenged during our non-conference schedule as we are on the road for four straight tournaments," said Day. "My goal was to put together a schedule that would challenge our roster and give us plenty of opportunities to see what our players can do. It will be great competing against some new teams, as well as seeing some familiar faces across the net. All of these matches will not only help us improve our individual skills and develop our systems, but they will help us find our team's identity as we get ready to open conference play. I am looking forward to watching the pieces come together."

The Purple Eagles will open the season at the FAU Invitational, hosted by Florida Atlantic. NU will take on Stetson (10:00 a.m.) and Grambling State (4:30 p.m.) on Friday, Aug. 30 and will face FAU at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. It will be Niagara's first all-time meeting will all three teams.

Niagara will then compete in the Cornell Invitational, facing Youngstown State (12:00 p.m.) and Hartford (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 6 and Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 12:00 p.m.

The Purple Eagles will continue tournament play with an invitational at the University of the Incarnate Word Sept. 13-14. The Purple Eagles will face Delaware (3:00 p.m. ET) and Northern Illinois (5:30 p.m. ET) on Sept. 13 and Incarnate Word on Sept. 14 at 3:00 p.m. ET. It will be the Purple Eagles' first time in program history competing against Incarnate Word and Northern Illinois.

The Purple Eagles close out non-conference play at the Cleveland State University Invitational. Niagara takes on the Vikings on Friday, Sept. 20. NU will matchup with Kent State on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1:00 p.m.

Niagara opens MAAC play on Tuesday, Sept. 24 in the Gallagher Center, hosting crosstown rival Canisius at 6:00 p.m. for the first installment of the Battle of the Bridge.

The Purple Eagles take their first conference road trip Sept. 28-29, playing at Manhattan on Sept. 28 at 1:00 p.m. and at Iona on Sept. 29 at 1:00 p.m.

Niagara returns home for matches against Rider (Oct. 5) and Saint Peter's (Oct. 6), before hitting the road again to take on Siena (Oct. 12), Marist (Oct. 13), Fairfield (Oct. 19) and Quinnipiac (Oct. 20). Niagara hosts Iona at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Manhattan on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1:00 p.m.

The Purple Eagles close out their road schedule with matches at Saint Peter's (Nov. 2) and Rider (Nov. 3) before heading to Canisius on Thursday, Nov. 7 to wrap up the annual Battle of the Bridge series.

The Purple Eagles close out the season with a four-game home stand, hosting Marist on Nov. 9, Siena on Nov. 10, Quinnipiac on Nov. 16 and Fairfield on Nov. 17. All matches will begin at 1:00 p.m., with the exception of Marist, which will start at 12:00 p.m. 

The MAAC Championships will be held Nov. 22-24.

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