FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team kicks off its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) season this weekend with away matches at Manhattan and Iona. 

SHU AT MANHATTAN MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart at Manhattan – Saturday, September 28; 4:00 p.m. 

SHU AT IONA MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart at Charleston Southern – Sunday, September 29; 1:00 p.m. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers took part in the Buc Dome Invitational this past weekend, going 1-2 at the event. SHU sandwiched a win over the hosts of Charleston Southern between setbacks to Norfolk State and Western Illinois. 

THE VILLAR-REAL DEAL
Through the first 12 matches of her career, Miliani Villarreal has been one of the best liberos in the country. The first year from Murrieta, Calif., leads the MAAC and is 12th in the country with 226 digs this season. She also ranks 18th in Division I with 4.91 digs per set. 

Villarreal has quickly garnered attention from the conference as she has been named MAAC Libero of the Week four times and Rookie of the Week twice. She was just tabbed Libero of the Week after an impressive performance at the Buc Dome Invitational. She led the team with 54 digs (5.40/set), including a match-high 27 in SHU's four-set win over the hosts of Charleston Southern on Saturday evening.

1,000 CLUBS
A pair of Pioneers have reached career milestones in recent weeks, as Camryn Luginbuhl got to 1,000 career points and kills this season, while Gaby Zovko just got to 1,000 assists. Luginbuhl is in her fourth collegiate season and has been the Pioneers' best offensive threat in her tenure. She has led the team in kills in each of her two seasons donning the red and white, maintaining a 3.19 kills per set average with 1,058 career kills heading into this weekend. 

Zovko, on the other hand, just crossed 1,000 career assists this past weekend, doing so in just 39 matches. The sophomore standout has dished out 1,015 helpers as a Pioneer. Zovko has been on fire of late, just winning NEC Setter of the Week honors after tallying her second triple-double of the season against Charleston Southern.

LOOKING ACROSS THE NET
Manhattan 

• The Jaspers head into Saturday's match with a 1-9 overall record after falling in their last three matches, including their home opener against NJIT on Tuesday. 
• Manhattan's lone win came against Le Moyne in four sets. 
• Senior outside hitter Maike Bertens has been the Jaspers' best offensive player, leading the team in kills, aces and points per set. 
• Bertens has three double-doubles this season, including a 29-kill, 14-dig performance against Morgan State, which marked a career-high in kills for the senior.  
• Junior setter Sarah Emmons commands the Manhattan attack, assisting on 243 of the team's 408 kills.

Iona

• The Gaels are 2-10 heading into this weekend, winning one of three matches at St. John's 2024 Jack Kaiser Classic this past Friday and Saturday. 
• Iona's win came over Bryant in three sets on Sept. 20.
• Senior outside hitter Mackenzie Wiggins, who was named to the All-MAAC Preseason Team, paces Iona with 121 kills and 3.18 kills per set this season.
• Wiggins has tallied five double-doubles, highlighted by a 17-kill, 20-dig outing against FDU. 
• Sophomore outside hitter Ava DeGuzman has been the team's best defender, as she averages a team-high 3.54 digs per set.