Week 9 NEC Blitz Volleyball Power Rankings
1. Saint Francis (10-10, 6-2 NEC)
Saint Francis vaults to the top spot after a huge win over FDU in four sets, snapping the Knights’ 13-game winning streak. Korrin Burns and Maggie Hogan continue to dominate offensively, and their defense came up big when it mattered most. With the victory, SFU now holds the tiebreaker over FDU for the top spot in the tournament seeding, making this a monumental win for the Red Flash. They have been nearly unbeatable at home, and this win further solidifies their dominance in Loretto.
2. FDU (17-6, 7-1 NEC)
FDU slips to second after their thrilling four-set loss to Saint Francis. While the Knights beat SFU on Friday in five sets, the Red Flash’s victory on Saturday gives them the edge in head-to-head competition. The Knights still boast one of the best rosters in the conference, with Kylie Nott and Hannah Schmidt leading the charge, but they’ll need to regroup quickly. With a 13-game winning streak now in the rearview, FDU remains a top contender, and their upcoming matchup with Chicago State will be a key test. On the plus side, if they get more performances like we saw on Saturday out of Avery Bain, there’s no doubt that the Knights will be the team to beat in the conference tournament.
3. Chicago State (12-8, 8-0 NEC)
Chicago State somehow drops down to third, still unbeaten in conference play. While they’ve dominated every NEC opponent so far, the real test will come when they face FDU this weekend. Julieta Sandez and Wiktoria Zagumny continue to shine, but we’re waiting to see how the Cougars handle FDU’s firepower. For now, they sit just behind the top two, but a win against the Knights would push them up the rankings- and a sweep would catapult them into first place. We love Chicago State, and I think placing them at third is a little unfair, but after the clash of the titans we saw this weekend between Saint Francis and FDU, we just need to see how Chicago State handles FDU on their own big stage.
4. LIU (9-15, 5-3 NEC)
LIU’s six-match win streak keeps them in fourth place after sweeping Le Moyne. The Sharks are finding their rhythm at the right time, and with Alasha Colon leading the defense, they’ve been a tough team to beat recently. Their steady improvement makes them a dangerous team heading into the final stretch of the season.
5. Mercyhurst (3-15, 2-6 NEC)
Mercyhurst moves up after splitting their weekend series with Central Connecticut. The Lakers showed won their first match against CCSU in four sets before falling in a tough five-set battle the next day. Paige Miller remains a key player for Mercyhurst, and the team continues to show flashes of potential in their first NEC season.
6. Central Connecticut (3-17, 1-7 NEC)
CCSU also moves up a spot after their split with Mercyhurst. While they lost in four sets on Friday, the Blue Devils bounced back with a five-set win on Saturday. They’ve struggled throughout the season but showed some grit in their win, which could be a building block for the rest of the season.
7. Stonehill (6-14, 2-6 NEC)
Stonehill drops to seventh after getting swept by Chicago State. The Skyhawks have been on a rough stretch, now having lost five straight matches. Despite strong performances from Abby Farrell, the team hasn’t been able to put it all together. They’ll need to find a way to stop the skid as they head into the final weeks of the season.
8. Le Moyne (2-17, 1-7 NEC)
Le Moyne remains at the bottom after being swept by LIU. The Dolphins have struggled to find consistency, and their young team is continuing to build experience. Players like Anaya Rawlinson have shown promise, but they’re still searching for wins as they work toward laying a foundation for future success.
Final Thoughts:
Saint Francis and FDU’s thrilling weekend showdown shook up the top of the rankings, with the Red Flash taking the lead thanks to their head-to-head victory in four sets with their loss coming in five. Chicago State continues to loom as an undefeated powerhouse, but their upcoming match against FDU will give us a clearer picture of how they stack up. Meanwhile, LIU is surging, and Mercyhurst and CCSU are battling for position in the middle of the standings as Stonehill and Le Moyne look for ways to finish the season strong. It’s starting to look like we may know the four teams who’ll compete in the conference tournament this season, but seeding is still very much up in the air.
