BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University volleyball team clinched a spot in the 2019 Northeast Conference Tournament with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-16) win over Saint Francis U on Senior Night at the Steinberg Wellness Center. The Sharks improve to 11-15 on the season and 10-5 in NEC play, Saint Francis U falls to 3-24 overall and 3-12 in league play.

LIU honored its senior class prior to the match, honoring Amanda Hubbard, Natalia Rivera and Kora Schaberl.

The Sharks put a strong showing offensively with a season-high .346 hitting percentage against the Red Flash. LIU also tallied 11 service aces on the night.

The seniors led the way on their night as Schaberl posted a team-high 10 kills and three service aces. Hubbard dished out 17 assists and Rivera tallied a match-high eight digs and contributed three service aces. LIU's rookies also contributed as freshman Fleur Wiersma registered nine kills on a .750 hitting percentage and added five total blocks. Classmate Barbora Hoskova recorded eight kills and five digs and Darragh Dixon added 10 assists.

LIU charged out to a 6-0 lead in the opening set on three kills across the board and a pair of aces from Rivera to force a Saint Francis timeout. Both teams would split the next six points before the Sharks used a five-point run led by a pair of kills from Hoskova to jump ahead 15-3. LIU continued to keep the commanding lead as the set wore on using a .500 hitting percentage along the way to a 25-13 opening set win.

Saint Francis held the slight 6-4 lead early in the second set. LIU used a 6-1 stretch paced by a pair of kills and service ace from Wiersma to take the lead 10-7. The Red Flash responded with a three point run to knot the set up 10-10. The Sharks answered right back with an extended 10-2 run led by two kills from Schaberl and a handful of Saint Francis errors to take a 20-12 lead. The Red Flash grabbed three of the next four points to make it a six-point deficit at 21-15. LIU closed the second set strong with kills from Hoskova and Wiersma then a service ace from Schaberl for the 25-15 second set win.

After the Red Flash opened the third set with the first two points, LIU used a 15-2 run to take control of the set. Schaberl led the charge with four kills and three service aces for the 15-4 lead. Saint Francis used a 4-1 run to cut into the deficit but the Sharks answered once again with a 5-2 swing for a 21-10 advantage. The Red Flash went on a 6-2 stretch for their final run of the game to make it a 23-16 LIU lead. Kills by Wiersma and Hoskova closed out the set for the 25-16 win and seal the match for the Sharks.

UP NEXT

The Sharks close the regular season tomorrow afternoon against Robert Morris. First serve at the Steinberg Wellness Center is slated for 3:00 p.m. LIU will await its seeding in next weeks tournament following the league results on Saturday.