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Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University Pioneers
Women's Volleyball Team Huddle

Women's Volleyball On the Road for Two Weekend Matches

10/23/2025 2:08:00 PM

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team heads on the road for two weekend matches before returning to the Pitt Center. The Pioneers will open up the weekend on Friday in North Andover, Mass. to meet the Merrimack Warriors in a mid-afternoon match scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first serve. The weekend will conclude on Saturday evening with a visit to in-state and MAAC rival Quinnipiac with first serve in Hamden set for 5:00 p.m.

HONOR ROLL
Going back-to-back and earning her fourth conference honor, sophomore Libero Miliani Villarreal was one of two Pioneers to score Jersey Mike's MAAC accolades as she was joined by graduate middle Cristina Montanez who scored her first co-MAAC Player of the Week distinction of the season. Villarreal closed out a 2-0 week with a 5.29 digs per set average, combining for 27 total across the two matches, including 25 against Iona. Montanez closed out the weekend with an impressive .600 attack percentage with 22 combined kills and a single error in 35 total attempts. She finished both matches in double figures with 10 kills against Manhattan and a dozen against the Gaels.

LEADING LIBERO
Sophomore libero Miliani Villarreal continues to impress in her second season with the Pioneers, as she ranks first in the conference in total digs (371) and second in digs per set (4.58). This past week, Villarreal averaged 5.29 digs per set in a pair of MAAC wins, with 12 against Manhattan, and her third 25+ match of the season with 25 against Iona.

BIG IN THE  MIDDLE
Graduate student Cristina Montanez has been a hitting machine in the last few weeks, hitting .500 or better in three-straight matches and if hitting the conference minimum would be fourth in the MAAC with a team-high .339 attack percentage with 100 kills and just 22 errors in 230 total attempts. Additionally, she leads the Pioneers with 59 total blocks, including a career-high 10 blocks in a four-set win over Marist.

ACROSS THE NET
SCOUTING MERRIMACK

  • Heading into this weekend, the Warriors are 5-13 overall and 3-6 in MAAC play. 
  • The Jaspers have dropped their last three straight matches, all three of which have come on the road.
  • In their most recent match, Merrimack staved off a sweep against Siena by forcing a fourth set in the lone meeting against the Saints in the regular season.
  • Much of the Warriors struggles have come on offense where they are currently last in the MAAC in points per set (13.66) and hitting percentage (.134).
  • Leading the Merrimack attack is sophomore outside McKenna Shotwell who enters the weekend with 159 kills for an average of 2.37 per set. She is also leads the team with 28 service aces and is second on the team with 204 digs.

ALL-TIME SERIES

  • Previous foes in the Northeast Conference, SHU will meet the Warriors for the 17th time in the history of the program with the Pioneers owning a 13-3 advantage in the previous 16 matchups, including a 9-0 record in meetings while both were members of the NEC.  
  • The Pioneers and Warriors have met at least once in each of the last six seasons, which comes as part of a stretch of 13 straight wins for Sacred Heart.

SCOUTING QUINNIPIAC

  • Winners of their last four matches, Quinnipiac enters this coming weekend with a 10-11 overall record and a mark of 7-2 in the MAAC which places them tied for second with Niagara.
  • The Bobcats snagged an early decision over the Pioneers with a four-set decision back on September 26 in what was the conference opener for both teams.
  • For the season, the Bobcats sit second overall in points per set at 16.57 while leading the conference in kills per set at 13.34 and opponent hitting percentage where they limit the opposition to just .172.
  • Leading the Bobcats attack is graduate opposite side Elena Giacomini who has amassed 358 total kills with her 4.42 kills per set leading all MAAC hitters.
  • Additionally, Giacomini leads the team with 30 service aces and 230 total digs, while she is third with 34 total blocks.
  • Senior Milena Silva is someone to avoid in the middle as she enters the weekend with a team-high 65 total blocks.

ALL-TIME SERIES

  • Familia foes, Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac will meet for the 28th time on Saturday, with Sacred Heart owning a 15-12 overall record in the previous 27 matchups. 
  • Prior to joining the MAAC, the Pioneers were riding a 14-match win streak against their in-state rival while the two teams split last season's two match-up with each winning on its own home court.

 

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