WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis University women's volleyball will continue Northeast Conference (NEC) action at home this weekend by taking on Central Connecticut on Friday, October 7 and Sacred Heart on Saturday, October 8. Both matches will start at 5:00 p.m.
 
>> Both matches can be streamed live on NEC Front Row and followed with Live Stats.
 
THE WORD ON CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
The Blue Devils stand at 8-6 overall and 2-1 in the NEC this season, ranking second in the conference. Central Connecticut went 1-1 at home last weekend after dropping in a five-set match to Long Island and defeating Sacred Heart over five sets.
 
Isabelle Roufs was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Week for the Blue Devils this past week after notching eight blocks and a dig in the team's win over the Pioneers.
 
The Blue Devils did not have any five-set matches in its non-conference slate, while each of the team's three conference games so far this season have either been won or lost in five set matchups.
 
LAST TIME WE MET CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
The Blue Devils hold the overall record against the Red Flash at 29-11. In addition, the Red Flash went 1-1 in both conference matches to Central Connecticut last season. The first coming in a four-set loss at the home of the Blue Devils and the second coming in a straight set win for the Red Flash to clinch a spot in the Northeast Conference Tournament in the 2021 season.
 
THE WORD ON SACRED HEART
The Pioneers are 9-8 overall this season and ranked third in the NEC at 2-1. Sacred Heart went 1-1 last weekend for a five-set loss to Blue Devils in Central Connecticut, followed by a straight set non-conference win at home to Hartford.
 
The Pioneer's setter, Sarah Ciszek has notched the NEC Player of the Week every week of the 2022 season, earning the spot six times in six weeks, while Brooke Jeffery notched NEC Rookie of the Week this past week after averaging 3.50 kills per set on the weekend.
 
Sacred Heart will first face Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday, October 7 at 5:00 p.m. at the home of FDU before taking on the Red Flash.
 
LAST TIME WE MET SACRED HEART
The Red Flash went 1-1 against the Pioneers last season after defeating Sacred Heart in Connecticut over five sets and then dropping in four sets in Loretto. The The Pioneers hold the overall record against the Red Flash by two games at 18-16.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Most recently, the Red Flash dropped a straight set match to Fairleigh Dickinson in Hackensack, N.J. Despite the loss, Maggie Means notched 11 digs over just two sets for the libero to earn a spot on the NEC Prime Performer list this past week.
 
Maggie Hogan leads the Red Flash offensively with 161 kills and 24 service aces on the season, while Emma Fenton continues to lead the team as a setter with 460 assists. Means and Aubrey Deptula lead the way defensively with 176 digs and 45.0 blocks, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's matches, the Red Flash will hit the road to Brooklyn, N.Y. to take on Long Island on Friday, October 14, and St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, October 15.