FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team welcomes Rider and Saint Peter's this weekend for home Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matches at Notre Dame High School.

SHU VS. RIDER MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart vs. Rider – Saturday, October 19; 7:00 p.m. (At Notre Dame HS)

SHU VS. SAINT PETER'S MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart vs. Saint Peter's – Sunday, October 20; 4:00 p.m. (At Notre Dame HS)

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers made the challenging trip to western New York this past weekend, suffering close defeats to Canisius and Niagara. SHU owned a two-set lead over the Golden Griffins before suffering a five-set loss on Saturday. The Pios then fell in four against the Purple Eagles on Sunday.

NATIONAL NAMES
The Pioneers riddle the national rankings, as Camryn Luginbuhl, Gaby Zovko and Miliani Villarreal all rank in the top 20 in different categories going into the weekend. Luginbuhl ranks 10th in the country in total kills (298) and 12th in points (337.5). Zovko is one of just seven DI players this year to tally three triple-doubles following her 50-assist, 10-kill, 10-dig performance against Canisius on Saturday. Villarreal heads into this weekend ranked 16th with 346 total digs. 

DIRTY DOZEN
After outstanding weekend performances, Luginbuhl and Zovko were named the MAAC Player and Setter of the Week, respectively. With two awards this week, SHU has up to 12 weekly MAAC honors for the season. 

Luginbuhl led the MAAC with 46 kills (5.11/set), also ranking second on the team with 28 digs (3.11/set) with two straight 20-kill, 10-dig double-doubles. Zovko was third in the MAAC with 88 assists (9.78/set), adding 17 kills (1.89/set) and 17 digs (1.89/set), opening the weekend with the aforementioned triple-double against the Golden Griffins. 

WELCOME HOME
For the first time this season, the Pioneers will host a home match on campus, starting with Saturday's bout versus Rider. SHU has played away in 18 matches this year, hosting one tilt at Fairfield. On Saturday, Sacred Heart will play eight of their final 11 at home, including six straight. 

The Pios won six times at home last season, only losing twice at the Pitt in conference play. Sacred Heart is 37-14 at home over the previous five seasons, tallying 8+ home wins in three campaigns.

LOOKING ACROSS THE NET
Rider 

• The Broncs are on fire heading into this weekend, winning six straight MAAC contests to rank second in the conference at 6-1. 
• Rider's lone league loss came in four sets at Quinnipiac. 
• The Broncs are a perfect 4-0 at home this season, while their road and neutral-site record sits at 3-12. 
• Outside hitters Kiannisha Santiago and Paige Giehtbrock have led the way for Rider. 
• Santiago paces the team with 195 kills, while Giehtbrock ranks first in aces (30), second in kills (163) and third in digs (117). 
• Giehtbrock is also the lone Bronc this season to win a MAAC weekly award, being named the Player of the Week on Oct. 9.

Saint Peter's

• After going winless last season at 0-30 the Peacocks already have four wins this year and are 2-5 in the MAAC heading into the weekend. 
• Saint Peter's have defeated Marist and Quinnipiac, the latter coming in five sets at Quinnipiac. 
• The Peacocks' strong suit this season has been their serving, as they rank 3rd in the MAAC and 59th nationally with 1.76 aces per set. 
• Sophomore outside hitter Maliyah Labrie has been the team's most consistent offensive threat, as she ranks second in the conference to Camryn Luginbuhl in both points per set (4.20) and kills per set (3.63). 
• Junior middle blocker Elena Bilhartz also ranks second in the MAAC with 1.04 blocks per set.