WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis University men's volleyball will hit the road to Charlotte, N.C., this week to take on Queens University on Wednesday, March 15 and NJIT at Queens on Thursday, March 16. Both matches are scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m.
 
>> Both games can be followed with live stats.
 
THE WORD ON THE ROYALS
Queens comes into Wednesday's matchup 7-10 overall. The Royals most recently faced some tough road opponents in No. 9 Loyola Chicago and Lewis University. The team took a straight set loss in both recent matchups.
 
Matthew Pilch leads the Royals as an outside hitter with 156 kills on the season, while Brian Schwob stands out as the setter with 476 assists. Guillermo Jordan and Stirling Sims lead Queens on the defensive end. Jordan with 114 digs and Sims with 29.0 total blocks
 
LAST TIME WE MET THE ROYALS
The Red Flash are 4-1 in the overall series against Queens. The last time the two teams met was last season in Loretto, Pa., when the Red Flash came away with a sweep against the Royals. The only time Queens has defeated Saint Francis came over five sets in the 2021 season in Charlotte, N.C.
 
THE WORD ON THE HIGHLANDERS
NJIT comes into the week 6-10 overall and 1-3 in the EIVA. The Highlanders will face North Greenville in Tigerville, S.C. before heading to Queens. Prior to this week, the Highlanders competed in a five-set loss to fellow EIVA member, Princeton. NJIT is currently tied for fourth place in the EIVA after just four conference games played.
 
Alessandro Negri leads NJIT in three statistical categories on the 2023 season with 149 kills, 69 digs and 14 service aces. Roque Nido stands out as the team's setter with 394 assists this season, while Martin de Chavarria leads the team in blocks with 40.0 total blocks.  
 
LAST TIME WE MET THE HIGHLANDERS
NJIT holds the advantage in the overall series against Saint Francis at 34-23. The last time the Red Flash and Highlanders met was earlier this season, by host school Harvard. NJIT came away with the last meeting in a straight set victory. Prior to the loss in Cambridge, Mass., the Red Flash claimed its first win over the Highlanders since 2019 last season over a five-set battle in Loretto, Pa.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Red Flash come into the week 5-10 overall and 4-2 in the NEC. The team most recently split its matches at home with a straight set loss to St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday, followed by a straight set win over FDU on Friday.
 
In the team's win over FDU, Ryan Parker led the Red Flash as the setter by notching 30 assists, while adding three service aces and three solo blocks. In addition, Andrew Deardorff, Trevor Lewis and Blake Liprando led Saint Francis in kills for the outside trio to notch 26 kills on the day.
 
UP NEXT
After competing in Charlotte, N.C., the Red Flash will return to Pa. to take on former EIVA foe, Penn State in State College on Saturday, March 18 at 7:00 p.m. for the team's final non-conference game of the 2023 season.