BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn volleyball team ends its home regular season slate with matchups against Saint Francis U and Robert Morris this weekend at the Steinberg Center.
The Blackbirds will honor seniors Viktoria Fink and Alexandra Lilliquist for Senior Day prior to the 6:00 p.m. first serve against the Red Flash on Friday, October 26.
BLACKBIRD OUTLOOK
With another two win weekend to improve to 9-0 in Northeast Conference play, the Blackbirds secured a berth in the NEC Tournament for the 16th consecutive season. LIU defeated Fairleigh Dickinson in straight sets on Friday before coming from behind to beat Sacred Heart in five sets.
The Blackbirds out blocked the opposition 22-11 on the weekend, winning the battle a the net for the sixth straight game. LIU has recorded a 102.5 total blocks in NEC play for a league-best 3.01 blocks per set mark. Overall, the Blackbirds rank second in the league with a 2.26 block per set season average. Freshman Myrthe Maring ranks fourth in the conference with a .94 block per set average and junior Filippa Hansson ranks 10th with a .80 block per set mark on the year.
LIU continues to pace the conference in digs per set with a 17.13 season average to rank 33rd in the country. Junior libero Natalia Rivera leads the NEC with a 5.47 digs per set mark and ranks inside the top-20 in the country for the season.
FINK TABBED NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fink earned Molten/NEC Co-Player of the Week honors for the second time this season after averaging 3.71 kills per set and 3.14 digs per set for the Blackbirds this past weekend. She recorded a pair of double-doubles on the weekend including 16 kills and 12 digs in LIU's five-set win over Sacred Heart. Fink ranks fifth in the NEC with 3.22 kills per set on the season.
SCOUTING THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis enters Friday's matchup 4-18 overall and fifth in the NEC with a 3-6 league record. The Red Flash were unable to fend off Bryant and CCSU at home last weekend, falling in five sets to both teams. LIU took the first meeting out in Loretto with a 3-2 win over Saint Francis back on October 5. Fink and sophomore Piper Matsumoto tallied double-doubles in the win for the Blackbirds.
Outside hitter Madi Tyus is the reigning NEC Rookie of the Week after posting 21 kills and 25 digs in the five-set loss to the Blue Devils. She currently ranks second in the conference in kills per set (3.37) and seventh in digs per set (3.42). Jess Barrett ranks second in the league with 4.43 digs per set. As a team, SFU leads the NEC with 38.07 team attacks per set.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
Robert Morris comes into the weekend 8-16 overall and 2-7 in the Northeast Conference. The Colonials are on a three-game skid in league play and have faired just 2-7 on the road this season. The Blackbirds earned a 3-1 win over the Colonials back on October 6. Freshman Myrthe Maring recorded a career-high eight blocks and junior Kora Scaberl led the team with 11 kills.
The Colonials currently rank third in the NEC with 1.39 service aces per set. Sophomore Emma Granger ranks among the league leaders in four categories, hitting percentage (.283-5th), kills per set (2.63-10th), service aces per set (.40-2nd) and blocks per set (.82 -8th) to lead the charge for Robert Morris.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds begin a three-game road stretch to end the regular season. First up is a trip to St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday, November 2 at 4:00 p.m.