Final Weekend Power Rankings
As we approach the NEC tournament, Chicago State maintains its hold on the top spot, while Saint Francis U, FDU, and LIU round out the tournament qualifiers. Here’s how the power rankings stack up after another thrilling weekend.
1. Chicago State (15-9, 11-1 NEC)
Chicago State stays in the top spot after sweeping Mercyhurst in back-to-back matches. With a perfect 9-0 home record, the Cougars have dominated at the JDC, where they’ll host the NEC Tournament if they clinch the #1 seed with a split against Saint Francis U next weekend. Julieta Sandez and Wiktoria Zagumny have been the backbone of the team’s success, helping the Cougars maintain momentum as the postseason approaches.
2. Saint Francis (14-10, 10-2 NEC)
Saint Francis extended their winning streak to five with dominant sweeps over Le Moyne. Korrin Burns and Maggie Hogan continue to shine, making the Red Flash a serious threat as they head into a high-stakes series against Chicago State. With a strong road record (8-4), Saint Francis is well-prepared for an intense battle that could see them secure the #1 seed if they sweep- but as road warriors, they might be just fine in the Windy City.
3. FDU (19-8, 9-3 NEC)
FDU bounced back from a tough loss to LIU with a convincing 3-0 sweep the following day to earn the tiebreaker. Hannah Schmidt continues to provide consistency, while Avery Bain’s emergence adds depth to their lineup. With a solid 8-3 home record, the Knights are poised for a strong tournament showing, though their final seeding will depend on this weekend’s results.
4. LIU (13-16, 8-4 NEC)
LIU’s nine-match winning streak was snapped with a split against FDU. While they claimed the first game in four sets, they were unable to repeat the feat in the second. As they lost in three, they also lost the tiebreaker in seeding against FDU. Defensive powerhouse Alasha Colon has kept LIU competitive, and the Sharks have proven they can challenge the top teams. Currently seeded fourth, LIU will look to carry momentum into the tournament, where they could be a dangerous underdog- and don’t forget that they emerged as the winner last season.
5. Stonehill (7-17, 3-9 NEC)
Stonehill moved up in the standings after splitting with Central Connecticut, ending a long losing streak with a 3-0 win. While the Skyhawks won’t make the tournament, they’ll aim to finish on a high note in their final weekend in a spoiler role.
6. Central Connecticut (4-20, 2-10 NEC)
Central Connecticut’s struggles were somewhat relieved with a split against Stonehill. While their offensive play has shown some bright spots, they’ve faced difficulties sustaining momentum. CCSU has been eliminated from the tournament, but at least they were able
7. Le Moyne (4-19, 3-9 NEC)
Le Moyne suffered back-to-back losses without notching a set against Saint Francis. They’ve had a few bright spots during the season, but the Dolphins haven’t found the consistency needed to contend. Despite the tough season, they’ll have one more weekend to show their resilience and end with positive momentum when they take on Mercyhurst
8. Mercyhurst (3-19, 2-10 NEC)
Mercyhurst rounds out the rankings after a rough weekend against Chicago State. The Lakers were actually very competitive against the conference leaders. As they close out their inaugural NEC season, Mercyhurst will have to focus on a springboard to next year against Le Moyne.
