FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team hits the road this weekend for its final matches of the 2024 regular season, as SHU heads to Saint Peter's on Saturday and Rider on Sunday in a pair of important Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contests.

SHU AT SAINT PETER'S MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart at Saint Peter's – Saturday, Nov. 16; 1:00 p.m.

SHU AT RIDER MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart at Rider – Sunday, Nov. 17; 1:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Sacred Heart topped both Niagara and Canisius this past weekend. The Pios swept the Purple Eagles in convincing fashion and took down the Golden Griffins in four sets. With the two wins, SHU moved into a tie for fourth in the MAAC standings.  

NATIONAL RANKING CHECK-INS
The Pioneers continue to impress on a national stage as five of them rank in the top 10 of different individual categories. Camryn Luginbuhl ranks eighth in the country in points (524.0) and total kills (470) and is 10th in DI in total attacks (1,197). Gaby Zovko is tied for eighth this season with four triple-doubles on the year and is 10th in the country with 53 aces. Just outside the top 10 is Miliani Villarreal in 15th with 504 digs this year. 

PLAYOFF PICTURE
Heading into this weekend, the Pioneers are tied with Canisius in fourth place in the MAAC standings. The team that finishes fourth will get a bye into the second round of the MAAC Postseason Tournament, which gives this weekend's matches extra importance. SHU owns the tiebreaker, as they own five sets won over the Golden Griffins, while Canisius has won four in the two contests between the teams this season.

RECORD WATCH
One thing we will be watching for the rest of the season is if Luginbuhl will be able to set the single-season program record for kills. She currently has 470 and is second on the all-time list to Associate Head Coach Kim Roleder, who had 497 in 2011. With at least three matches left this season, Luginbuhl stands an excellent chance to become the first player in SHU women's volleyball history to tally 500 kills in a season.  

LOOKING ACROSS THE NET
Saint Peter's

• The Peacocks are 6-17 this season and 4-12 in the MAAC. 
• They have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention as they can climb to ninth in the league standings. 
• Sophomore outside hitter Maliyah Labrie leads the way for SPU with 243 kills (3.20/set) and 288.5 points (3.80/set). 
• She tallied 34 kills over the team's last two matches, helping to secure a win over Manhattan in their most recent bout. 
• Defensively, freshman Lagean Colon has tallied a team-leading 225 digs (2.68/set).

Rider

• The Broncs head into this weekend tied with Quinnipiac for second in the MAAC standings. 
• The team that earns the No. 2 seed will earn a bye through the first two rounds of the MAAC Postseason Tournament. 
• Quinnipiac holds the tiebreaker over Rider because of a 3-1 win on Sept. 28 in Hamden, Conn. 
• On the defensive side of the ball, junior libero Keegan O'Connor paces the team with 268 (3.35/set). 
• Sophomore outside hitter Paige Giehtbrock has excelled on both ends of the court, ranking second on the team in both kills (239) and digs (189). 
• She won Rider's lone MAAC weekly honor, named the Player of the Week on Oct. 9.