LORETTO, Pa.— The Long Island University volleyball team is headed west this weekend to take on the Northeast Conference Pennsylvania contingent. LIU will face off against Saint Francis U. on Friday. October 11 and head to Robert Morris for a match on Saturday, October 12. Friday's match against the Red Flash is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday's contest against the Colonials is slated for 5:00 p.m.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE 
LIU at Saint Francis U
Friday, October 11
Time: 7:00 p.m. 
Location: Loretto, Pa. (DeGol Arena)
Live Stats | NEC Front Row

LIU at Robert Morris
Saturday, October 12
Time: 5:00 p.m. 
Location: Moon Township, Pa. (UMPC Events Center)
Live Stats | NEC Front Row

NOTES ON THE SHARKS

LIU traveled to FDU on Saturday for its lone match last weekend. The Sharks came away with a straight set win over the Knights at the Rothman Center. LIU was led by a double-double effort from rookie Karolina Nova with a match-high 12 kills and 19 digs. Senior Kora Schaberl contributed nine kills for the Sharks. Freshman Miranda Strongman added eight kills on a team-high .667 hitting percentage. Senior Amanda Hubbard dished out 31 assists to go with eight digs.

Nova garnered Motlen/NEC Rookie of the Week honors for her performance in LIU's lone matchup last weekend. The Pribham, Czech Republic native has earned the league's weekly honor for three consecutive weeks.

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH

Saint Francis enters the weekend with a 1-3 mark in NEC play, coming off a three-set setback to Robert Morris on Wednesday night. Sophomore Madi Tyus leads the Red Flash offense with 3.66 kills per set on a .220 hitting in 14 matches. She currently ranks second in the NEC in kills per set. Sophomore setter Kimmy Sweeney ranks fourth in the NEC in assists per set with a 7.27 average. She also leads the team with a 2.67 digs per set average. 

SCOUTING THE COLONIALS

RMU sits at 14-3 on the season and 4-0 in Northeast Conference play after a straight set win over Saint Francis Wednesday night. The Colonials have jumped out to a 6-0 start in the new UMPC Events Center. RMU will match up against Fairleigh Dickinson before Saturday's tilt against the Sharks. 

The Colonials currently pace the conference in all team categories, notably ranking sixth nationally with 2.95 blocks per set. RMU also ranks 20th nationally in opposing hitting percentage (.153). Senior middle blocker Emma Granger, a two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Week leads the team and the conference with 1.57 blocks per set. She also leads the NEC with .60 service aces per set. Granger has also averaged 2.91 kills per set on a .353 hitting percentage. Junior Whitney Brown, the reigning NEC Player of the Week paces the league circuit with 9.57 assists per set. Sophomore libero Nikolette Zanolli leads the Colonials defense, boasting a NEC leading 4.98 digs per set.

UP NEXT

LIU returns home to downtown Brooklyn to begin a four-game homestand at the Steinberg Wellness Center. First up, a midweek meeting against NEC rival, St. Francis Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m.