WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis University men's volleyball will begin a four-game Northeast Conference (NEC) home stanza starting on Friday, Feb. 24 against Sacred Heart at 6:00 p.m., followed by a matchup to Merrimack on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m.
>> Both games can be followed live on
NEC Front Row and followed with
live stats.
THE WORD ON THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart comes into Friday's match, 3-6 overall and 1-1 in the NEC. In addition, the Pioneers currently stand at sixth overall in the conference.
The Pioneers began conference action last weekend by splitting the weekend at home with a straight set win over D'Youville, but a five set loss to Daemen.
Patrick Mucherino currently leads Sacred Heart as the outside hitter with 92 kills on the season, while Tyler Kwinta stands out as the team's setter with 245 assists this season over the nine games played. In addition, Ife Loverton and and Cole Younger lead the Pioneers on the defensive end. Loverton with 33.0 blocks and Younger with 63 digs. Loverton was most recently named the First Point NEC Defensive Player of the Week.
LAST TIME WE MET THE PIONEERS
The Red Flash are 28-5 overall against the Pioneers. The last time the two teams met was last season when they competed as EIVA conference members. Saint Francis won the two teams' first meeting in Fairfield, Conn., last season over five sets. However, in their last meeting, the Pioneers defeated the Red Flash over five sets in Loretto, Pa.
THE WORD ON THE WARRIORS
Merrimack will come into the weekend 6-5 overall and 1-1 in the NEC, standing at fourth overall in the conference. The team will face Fairleigh Dickinson in Teaneck, N.J. on Friday, Feb. 24 at 6:00 p.m. before coming to Loretto, Pa.
Most recently, the Warriors split its first weekend of conference action with a five-set loss to Daemen, followed by a five-set win over D'Youville.
Zyshone Lang leads the Warriors as a hitter with 111 kills on the season, while Carson Bashford leads the team as the setter with 384 assists this season. In addition, Kyle Standage and Matthew Motes stand out defensively. Standage with 112 digs and Motes with 28.0 blocks.
LAST TIME WE MET THE WARRIORS
Saturday's matchup marks the first time the Warriors and Red Flash have competed against one another in men's volleyball since this is Merrimack's inaugural season of men's volleyball.
LAST TIME OUT
The Red Flash most recently competed in its only one game weekend of the season at LIU. The game between the Sharks and Red Flash was a back-and-forth one that came down to finding a two-point difference in the fifth set. LIU snagged the win to put the Red Flash at 2-9 overall and 1-1 in the NEC.
Despite the loss at LIU,
Trevor Lewis and
Ryan Parker were named First Point NEC Prime Performers for their efforts. Lewis notched his first career double-double with 23 kills and 12 digs in the game, while Parker recorded 55 assists for a new career high for the setter.
Parker continues to lead the Red Flash in three statistical categories so far this season with 311 assists, 12 service aces and 51 digs.
Nathan Zini leads the team in kills with 103 and
Thomas Leahey stands out as the middle blocker with 35.0 total blocks this season.
UP NEXT
The Red Flash will continue conference action at home next weekend by hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. and St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, March 11 at 2:00 p.m.
