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Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University Pioneers
Volleyball Team High Fives
Emma Pinault

Final Regular Season Home Matches on the Docket this Weekend

11/6/2025 10:30:00 AM

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After spending last weekend on the road, the Sacred Heart women's volleyball team returns to the Wiliam H. Pitt Center for a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foes in the final regular season weekend. Both matches will come against conference opponents the Pioneers will meet just once in the regular season as Canisius and Niagara make the long trip to the Nutmeg State. The Golden Griffins open up the weekend action on Friday, November 7 with first serve set for 7:00 p.m. while the Purple Eagles will visit on Saturday, November 8 with first serve set for 6:00 p.m.

WEEKLY ACCOLADES
For the third time this season, sophomore libero Miliani Villarreal and first year Ryleigh Short have paired up to earn conference honors in the same week. This past week's recognition for Villarreal was the fifth time this season she has been tabbed the MAAC's Libero of the Week while Short earned her third Rookie of the Week distinction. Villarreal closed out three matches last week averaging 5.58 digs per set, including a five-match school record with 42 on the road at Siena. Short led the Pioneers offense with 43 attacks last week, putting down double figures in all three matches, extending her current streak to 12-straight matches.

LEADING LIBERO
Sophomore libero Miliani Villarreal continues to impress in her second season with the Pioneers, as she leads the conference in total digs (472) and second in digs per set (4.72). Last week, Villarreal averaged 5.58 digs per set in three MAAC matches, including a career-high and single match record for a five-set match with 42 at Siena. For the season, the second-year has finished all but two of the 26 total matches with double figures defensively.

BIG IN THE MIDDLE
Graduate student Cristina Montanez has been a hitting machine in the last few weeks, hitting .300 or better in 10 of the last 11 matches and is currently fourth in the MAAC with a team-high .346 attack percentage with 138 kills and just 30 errors in 312 total attempts. Additionally, she leads the Pioneers with 73 total blocks, including a career-high 10 blocks in a four-set win over Marist.

ACROSS THE NET
SCOUTING CANISIUS

  • Heading into this weekend, the Golden Griffins hold a 10-14 overall and an 8-6 mark in MAAC play. If the regular season were to end before this weekend, the Golden Griffins would be among the top-six teams earning a bid to the postseason MAAC Championship.
  • Heading into this weekend, the Golden Griffins have dropped their last three-straight matches, all which have come on the road, and the last two of which went five sets each against Saint Peter's and Rider.
  • As a team, Canisius stands middle of the pack in the conference offensively with an average of 12.03 kills per set, however defensively they are holding opponents to the second lowest kills per set average of 11.68.
  • Individually, senior middle blocker Bella Mosquera leads the Golden Griffins, and four players overall with 200+ kills, as she comes into the weekend with 249 total kills and a .300 attack percentage. Additionally, she is second on the team with 32 service aces and leads Canisius with 84 total blocks.

ALL-TIME SERIES

  • Friday night's match will be just the fourth all-time between Sacred Heart and Canisius, with the Pioneers holding a 2-1 advantage in the previous three matches.
  • Prior to joining the MAAC, the two teams met just once back in the 2015 season with the Pioneers sweeping Canisius in a neutral site match.
  • Last season, the first in the MAAC for Sacred Heart, the teams split two meetings, with each winning on their home court. In Fairfield, Sacred Heart took a four-set victory, while Canisius battled for a five-set decision in Buffalo.

SCOUTING NIAGARA

  • Winners in four of their last five matches, Niagara is one of three teams that has already secured a bid to the upcoming MAAC Championship, entering the weekend with an 11-11 overall record and an 11-3 mark in conference action.
  • Entering this weekend, the Purple Eagles are fourth in the MAAC in kills per set, averaging 12.11, while tied for the second lowest among out sets played in the league. Part of that success comes from having swept five of the 11 conference matches they have won.
  • Defensively, the Purple Eagles are third in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, limiting the opposition to a .186 average and 13.6 kills per set.
  • Leading Niagara individually is senior outside hitter Sydney Wilkes who comes into the weekend with 229 total kills, one of just two players with 200+ as she is joined by fellow classmate Kinga Wronska.

ALL-TIME SERIES

  • Sacred Heart and Niagara will meet for the fourth time on Saturday, with the Pioneers holding a 2-1 advantage in the previous three meetings.
  • Prior to joining the MAAC, the two teams met just once, which came on a neutral court in the first weekend of the season in 2008 with the Pioneers earning a sweep.
  • Last season, the first in the MAAC for Sacred Heart, the teams split two decisions, with each team winning on its home court. In Fairfield, the Pioneers earned a sweep, while Niagara scored a four-set decision in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

 

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