BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University volleyball team welcomes three opponents to the Steinberg Wellness Center this week. First up is a 6:00 p.m. matchup against rival, St. Francis Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 16. The Sharks then host Merrimack on Friday, October 18 before concluding the weekend against Bryant on Saturday, October 19.

LIU vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
Wednesday, October 16
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Steinberg Center)
Live Stats | NEC Front Row

LIU vs. Merrimack
Friday, October 18
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Steinberg Center)
Live Stats | NEC Front Row

LIU vs. Bryant
Saturday, October 19
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Steinberg Center)
Live Stats | NEC Front Row

NOTES ON THE SHARKS
LIU returns home after a three-game road swing to start the month. The Sharks sit at 4-1 in the NEC after a weekend split in Pennsylvania

Friday night, LIU posted a season-high .323 hitting percentage in a straight set win over Saint Francis U. The Sharks suffered a straight-set setback on Saturday at Robert Morris in a battle of the top two teams in the league standings.

Freshman Karolina Nova was named Molten/NEC Rookie of the Week for the fourth straight week after averaging 5.00 kills per set and 3.17 digs per set this past weekend. Senior Kora Schaberl tallied 4.67 kills per set on a .339 hitting percentage for LIU. She added 2.17 digs per set and four total blocks.

Senior Amanda Hubbard dished out 10.00 assists per set on the weekend and recorded 2.50 digs per set. Sophomore Anastasia Scott led the team with 4.33 digs per set on the weekend.

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS

St. Francis Brooklyn comes into Wednesday's matchup with an 8-11 record overall and a 2-3 league mark. The Terriers are coming into the match on a two-game winning streak with a four-set win over Manhattan a week ago and a straight set victory at Merrimack this past Saturday.

Sophomore outside hitter Una Stevic leads the St. Francis offense with 2.80 kills per set. Senior middle blocker Wies Hurkmans has recorded a league-leading .382 hitting percentage in 18 matches. Sophomore setter Angelee Ng paces the team with 7.07 assists per set.

Defensively, freshman middle blocker Ashley Gonzalez has registered a team-high 1.67 blocks per set. Sophomore libero Kizzy Rodriguez ranks second in the conference with 4.14 digs per set.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS

The Warriors enter the weekend in search of their first NEC victory. The newest league member is set for a match against Robert Morris at home on Thursday, October 17 before taking on LIU on Friday evening.

Senior Catherine Flaherty paces the Merrimack offensive attack with 2.42 kills per set. Senior setter Rosie Sperduto has distributed 6.35 assists per set for the Warriors. Freshman defensive specialist Taelyr Czech leads the defense with 3.20 digs per set.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

Bryant, the defending NEC Tournament champions stand at 10-13 overall and 5-2 in Northeast Conference action. The Bulldogs take on CCSU on Tuesday evening before closing out the weekend against the Sharks on Saturday.

As a team, Bryant ranks second in the conference with 1.60 aces per set on the season. First-year outside hitter Riley James leads the Bulldogs attack with 2.57 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Caroline Kennedy has added 2.49 kills per set on a .260 hitting percentage. Bryant system features a pair of setters in junior Alisi Motu'apuaka and freshman Mia Cergol. Motu'apuaka has registered 5.17 assists per set and Cergol has distributed 4.03 assets per set. Junior libero Erika Ward paces the Bulldog defense with 3.38 digs per set.

UP NEXT

The Sharks are set for a two-game slate next weekend. LIU concludes the regular season meeting against CCSU on Friday, October 25 at the Steinberg Center before traveling up to Sacred Heart on Saturday, October 26 to close out the weekend.