Flash Points:

• Women's volleyball opens conference play this weekend.
• Jenna Veres (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) earned NEC Defensive Player of the Week.
• Sophia Esposito (Coraopolis, PA/Montour (Gardner-Webb)) leads the conference in blocks per set (1.17).

LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's volleyball team will open Northeast Conference play this weekend as they host Bryant and Central Connecticut State. Both matches are set for 2 p.m.
 
OPPONENTS
Bryant enters the weekend with an 8-9 record and had its five-match winning streak snapped against Providence on Tuesday. During their five-match streak, the Bulldogs only lost one set. On the offensive side of the ball, Kiley Robbins leads the Bulldogs with 119 kills, while defensively; Erica Vendituoli leads the team with 176 digs. Alexandria Lunsford's .401 hitting percentage leads the NEC.
 
Central Connecticut is 5-7 on the season and comes into conference play on a five-match losing streak, including three matches at the Brown University Volleyball Invitational last weekend. Raquel Quirarte paces the Devils' offense with 106 kills, while her 0.48 service aces per set leads the conference. Rachel Fish leads the squad in digs with 232.
 
Veres Named NEC Defensive Player of the Week
Jenna Veres (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) was locked in defensively over the weekend, averaging 6.33 digs per set for Saint Francis U to earn All-Tournament honors at the school's own Red Flash Classic. She recorded 20-plus digs in matches against Eastern Kentucky and Navy, and added 13 more in a 3-0 win over Iona on Saturday.
 
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
Junior Sophia Esposito (Coraopolis, PA/Montour (Gardner-Webb)) has ascended the NEC rankings for blocks per set and now leads the conference in that statistic. She is averaging 1.17 blocks per set to lead the NEC. She had three total blocks and fives kills against Eastern Kentucky at the Red Flash Classic.

Saint Francis travels to Sacred Heart and FDU next weekend. Both matches are set for 1 p.m.