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Loretto, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's volleyball team will play its first match of the season in DeGol Arena when it welcomes Merrimack (1-6) on Saturday in both teams' conference opener. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
 
Scouting the Warriors
 
Merrimack is in its first season as a Division I affiliate after moving up from Division II to join the Northeast Conference for the 2019-20 season. Although the Warriors are not eligible for postseason play for four full seasons, the game will still count against the Red Flash in their conference record. Merrimack is 1-6 on the season and 0-5 against Division I opponents with just one set win. The Warriors went 5-21 as a Division II member last season. Senior Catherine Flaherty is the team's top hitter with 56 kills.
 
Tyus the Terror
 
Sophomore Madi Tyus (Plano, TX/Bishop Lynch), a 2018 Second Team All-NEC selection continues to give opposing defenses fits. Tyus leads the NEC in kills per set (3.64) which could bode well on Saturday as Merrimack comes into Saturday with the fewest blocks and worst opponent hitting percentage in the conference.
 
Sweeney's Swift Transition
 
Sophomore Kimmy Sweeney (Broadview Heights, OH/Beaumont School) is the team's top setter and ranks fourth in the NEC in assists per set at 7.90. The unselfish Sweeney showed off her versatility last weekend, making the move to libero while junior Shannon Thomas (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria) took over as setter. The moved work as Sweeney led Saint Francis with 31 digs in three matches at the Blue & White Classic hosted by the University of Buffalo to land on the All-Tournament Team.
 
New Beginnings
 
The Red Flash will hit the reset button on its 0-12 start to the season with the start of NEC play. Don't count the Red Flash out as a playoff team just yet. Of the nine teams in the league, only Robert Morris has recorded a winning record out of league and four of the nine teams have one win or less. Saint Francis has won 10 league games over the last two seasons and was swept in just five of 14 league games in 2018.