No. 9 Volleyball Heads to No. 8 NEC For GNAC First Round

HENNIKER, N.H. — The ninth-seeded University of Saint Joseph (USJ) women's volleyball team returns to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Playoffs for the first time since 2014, traveling to eighth-seeded New England College (NEC) for the GNAC First Round Monday night. First serve against the Pilgrims is slated for 6:00 p.m. inside Bridges Gym. 
 
#9 USJ BLUE JAYS (7-20, 6-9 GNAC) at #8 NEC PILGRIMS (12-16, 7-8 GNAC) 
LOCATION: Bridges Gym (Henniker, N.H.) 
DATE/TIME: Monday, Nov. 6 (6 p.m.)  
WATCH: Live Stream 
LIVE STATS: Live Stats 
TWITTER: @USJ_BlueJays | #FearTheFlock | #GoBlueJays 
 
USJ QUICK HITS 

• USJ earned the ninth seed in the GNAC playoffs after finishing with a 6-9 record in conference play.
• The postseason appearance marks the first time since 2014 that the Blue Jays advanced to the GNAC Playoffs.
• USJ is paced offensively by senior outside hitter Shannon Carey (Bayport, N.Y.)
• Carey tops the team in kills (223) kills per set, 2.72 and is fourth in service aces (41). Carey has been just as stellar defensively, racking up 161 digs, the second most on the team.
• Senior libero Fernanda Ayala Rodriguez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) is the defensive anchor for the Blue Jays, leading the team with 382 digs, the sixth most in the GNAC.
• Ayala Rodriguez is also a menace at the service line, leading the team with 43 service aces.
• Sophomore Alexandra Long (East Hartford, Conn.) and graduate student Nicole Albert (Meriden, Conn.) split setting duties, as Long leads the way with 392 assists, while Albert has recorded 245.
• Senior middle blocker Victoria Adler (Berlin, Conn.) is a force at the net, leading the team with 40 blocks, while racking up 124 kills.

SCOUTING NEC 

• The Pilgrims earned a spot in the GNAC Playoffs during their first season in the conference, picking up the eight seed after finishing with a 7-8 record in conference play.
• NEC features a spread out offense, lead by junior outside hitter Torrance Robertson (Bakersfield, Calif.), who has a team-high 179 kills.
• Sophomore Lily-Anne Heywood (Derry, N.H.) also eclipsed 150 kills for NEC, tallying 158 on the year.
• Sophomore Aurora Gutierrez-Macia (El Paso, Texas) and freshman Alexandra Seijas (Fort Myers, Fla.) split setting duties, as Gutierrez-Macias tops the team with 320 assists, while Seijas has dished out 313 assists.
• Sophomore Krissy Cardello (Peabody, Mass.) is the defense anchor, leading the team with 332 digs.
• Senior Tatiana Sampson (Kailua, Hawaii) is the main force at the net, notching a team-high 57 blocks.

INSIDE THE SERIES 

• Monday marks the third time that NEC and USJ meet on the court.
• The Pilgrims are currently 2-0 against the Blue Jays.
• Earlier this season, the Pilgrims defeated the Blue Jays in West Hartford, 3-0. 

UP NEXT 
With a victory, the Blue Jays would advance to the GNAC Quarterfinals, taking on top-seeded Simmons University, tomorrow, Tuesday November 7. First serve against the Sharks would be slated for 7:00 p.m.

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