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LORETTO, PA- Saint Francis volleyball starts their three-match road trip with their final two-match road weekend as they travel to take on Fairleigh Dickinson and Sacred Heart on Friday and Saturday, respectfully.
 
It will be a key weekend across the NEC who has six-of-eight teams with in two games of the top spot and all six are fighting for the coveted four playoff spots. The Red Flash are right in the mix as they are currently tied for fourth at 5-4 in the Northeast Conference.
 
ABOUT THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis comes into the weekend off their second split of the Brooklyn teams, this time inside DeGol Arena. The Red Flash swept St. Francis Brooklyn and fell to LIU Brooklyn in a tough back-and-forth three-set match.
 
The Red Flash continue to be paced by Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) and Emily Marcinowski (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) on the outside. The two seniors average over three kills per set with Roush second in the NEC at 3.91 kills per set. With the seniors leading the way, SFU has gotten incredible offensive balance in NEC play. Against the Terriers, four players had at least seven kills and three reached double digits in kills.
 
Defensively, Jenna Veres (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) continues to lead the Northeast Conference in digs, averaging nearly six digs per set on the season and nearly seven digs per set in NEC play.  She upped those stats last weekend, averaging nearly eight digs per set including over 11 digs per set against LIU.
 
Saint Francis will look to win at FDU for the first time since the 2013 season and at Sacred Heart for the first time since the 2014 season.
 
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
The Knights come in at 5-18 on the season and 1-7 in the NEC. The Knights are a sound defensive team, that averages over 17 digs per set. That number is reached by a team effort with five players averaging at least two digs per set, led by Carly O'Sullivan who averages over four per set.
 
Offensively, Taylor Wyckoff continues to lead the offense, who averages over three kills per set. Outside hitters, Magdalena Maksimovic and Nataliya Rybakova have reached double digit kills in three of their last four matches. Maksimovic also is third in the NEC in service aces, which will be something to watch out for.
 
ABOUT THE PIONEERS
The Pioneers have been very streaky in NEC play, following four-straight losses with three-straight wins to even their conference record at 4-4. Like the Red Flash, SHU is paced by a pair of attackers in Makayla Dole and Liisel Nelis. Both outside hitters are averaging around 3.5 kills per set. Dole has stepped her game up in the three-game win streak, with Dole averaging over four kills per set during the run.
 
Defensively, freshman libero Madi Pope leads SHU with nearly four digs per set. Nelis and Kiki Robinson also average over two digs per set as well. Their block is paced by Rianna McNamee who averages nearly a block per set.
 
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Both matches will be streamed on NEC Front Row and will feature live stats. Friday's match starts at 5 p.m. with Saturday's match starting at 7. Links can be found at the top of the page and on the volleyball schedule page.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Red Flash close out the road portion of their schedule next Friday night when they take on the Robert Morris Colonials in Moon Township. First serve is set for 7 p.m.