NEC Volleyball Power Rankings: Week 6
1. FDU (12-5, 2-0 NEC)
FDU continues to really stretch my imagination to come up with ways to say what should be simple: this team is really good, and they’re not loosening their grip on the top spot at all after one week of NEC action. The Knights enjoyed a flawless start to conference play, sweeping through Le Moyne and picking up a non-conference win against Stony Brook. Eleonora Tosi and Kylie Nott continue to be forces at the net, while Hannah Schmidt has been dominant from the service line, leading the NEC in aces per set. The Knights are on a crazy eight-match win streak and are looking every bit the team to beat.
Key Player: Hannah Schmidt (0.61 aces/set, 5.65 assists/set)
2. Chicago State (6-8, 2-0 NEC)
Chicago State kicked off NEC play in dominant fashion with back-to-back sweeps of Central Connecticut. Julieta Sandez continues to lead the league in hitting percentage, while setter Wiktoria Zagumny paces the conference in assists per set. The Cougars are showing their potential in the NEC after navigating fairly well through a tough non-conference schedule, and with Patrycja Lagida and Berenice Almeyda playing at such a high level, Chicago State is a dangerous team moving forward.
Key Player: Julieta Sandez (.346 hitting percentage)
3. Saint Francis U (5-9, 1-1 NEC)
The Red Flash split their opening NEC matches with LIU, bouncing back with a strong 3-1 win in the rematch after a close five-set loss. Maggie Hogan and Korrin Burns continue to deliver offensively, with Burns leading the NEC in kills per set. There’s a lot of competition for this proclamation, but Burns just might be playing the best ball in the entire conference right now. Saint Francis has shown they can compete with anyone, and they’ll be a force as the season progresses.
Key Player: Korrin Burns (3.89 kills/set, 4.40 points/set)
4. LIU (3-13, 1-1 NEC)
LIU grabbed a key victory over Saint Francis U in five sets to open NEC play, demonstrating their grit in tight matches. Saint Francis rebounded the next day with a 4 set win, and so the split decision with the Red Flash helps them climb to number four on our rankings. Despite their overall record, the Sharks have shown the talent that earned them a preseason No. 2 ranking. Now that the non-conference schedule is over, the Sharks are prepared and forged in fire to swim their way through the league. Alasha Colon continues to anchor the defense, leading the NEC in digs per set.
Key Player: Alasha Colon (4.60 digs/set)
5. Stonehill (5-9, 1-1 NEC)
Stonehill started NEC play by splitting two hard-fought matches against Mercyhurst. Mia Berardino continues to shine as one of the NEC’s top hitters, and Abby Farrell’s all-around play has been crucial for the Skyhawks. With a strong balance of offense and defense, Stonehill is poised to climb even higher in the rankings as they settle into conference play.
Key Player: Mia Berardino (3.03 kills/set)
6. Mercyhurst (2-10, 1-1 NEC)
Mercyhurst got their first NEC win of the season- check that, of all time- with a solid 3-1 victory over Stonehill after struggling in the opener to conference play. After getting into a little bit of a rut, it’s good seeing the Lake Show climb up the rankings a little bit in volleyball-crazed Western Pennsylvania. Paige Miller has been a consistent force, and the Lakers are starting to show signs of growth. With continued development, Mercyhurst could become a tough out as the season progresses.
Key Player: Paige Miller (2.95 kills/set)
7. Central Connecticut (2-12, 0-2 NEC)
It was a tough start to NEC play for Central Connecticut, as they dropped two matches to Chicago State in straight sets. However, the Blue Devils have shown potential to disrupt this season, especially with strong individual performances from Lauren Milani and Weronika Poczynek. As conference play continues, CCSU will look to bounce back and capitalize on their talent. Chicago State is a tough team; we haven’t seen the last noise from New Britain this year.
Key Player: Lauren Milani (2.57 kills/set, 3.11 points/set)
8. Le Moyne (1-12, 0-2 NEC)
Le Moyne had a difficult start to NEC competition, falling in back-to-back matches against FDU. Despite the losses, the Dolphins are led by standout performances from players like Anaya Rawlinson, who continues to hit at a high level. With time and experience, this young team could surprise opponents later in the season.
Key Player: Anaya Rawlinson (.298 hitting percentage)
Final Thoughts:
FDU continues to lead the pack, while Chicago State is emerging as a serious contender. LIU and Saint Francis, the top two teams entering the season, are just a little behind them. Seeing Mercyhurst and Stonehill split their series underscores how talented the Lakers might be in their first season in NEC play; Stonehill certainly hasn’t been a slouch to open up the year. Le Moyne and Central Connecticut drew tough outs to open league play. It’s not over ‘till it’s over, and there’s a lot of good action coming up ahead.
