NEC Blitz Games of the Weekend: Saint Francis at LIU
Give the NEC credit: they made sure not to bury the lede this season.
Preseason #1 Saint Francis travels to Preseason #2 LIU for a crucial match up in Brooklyn on Friday at 6:00 PM and Saturday at 1:00 PM. This series is our NEC Blitz Games of the Weekend. It’s no surprise pick given the pre-season expectations for both squads, although their current places in the Power Rankings don’t reflect the talent each squad has. That’s the nature of non-conference play, though.
LIU played an absolutely brutal stretch. It wasn’t that their skill wasn’t on display. LIU has plenty of talented players on their squad, like Bria Plante, Alasha Colon, Camelia Melendez, and Bella Correia, all of whom have received NEC honors in this young season. They’re 2-12 on the season, though, and in every sport your record is who you are. However, along with that 2-12 record is a 0-0 record in conference play. The Sharks are a storied NEC program, and the level of defensive play in Brooklyn (anchored by Alasha Colon) will ensure that they remain in the league chase.
Meanwhile, the Red Flash have a talented squad of their own and a win against LIU will go a long way towards securing an NEC tournament berth even now as conference play begins. Korrin Burns has already earned player of the week honors while Alyssa Irwin was named Rookie of the Week on September 10th. The one-two punch of Saint Francis is undeniable as well, with Korrin Burns leading the conference in kills (3.81) just ahead of teammate Maggie Hogan (3.38). They’ve also got the top two in the conference in service aces per game (Drew Wallech and Alexandra Sappia). They’ll be a tough out for the Sharks.
This’ll be a Friday night battle that any fan of NEC volleyball shouldn’t miss. You won’t have to work too hard to see it, either, as the game is streaming on NEC Front Row. It’s impossible to predict this one, but more than any other game this season this contest will provide clarity on how the rest of conference play is likely to go.
