New Haven vs. Merrimack
New Haven vs. No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney
Saturday, Oct. 12 – 12 p.m. & 5 p.m.
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Riding a six-match winning streak, the University of New Haven women's volleyball team will host a tri-match on Saturday beginning at noon at Charger Gymnasium. The Chargers entertain Merrimack at 12 p.m. in a Northeast-10 contest and welcome No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney at 5 p.m. The Warriors and Lopers will meet at 2:30 p.m.
 
New Haven enters the weekend with a record of 11-3 overall and 4-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Most recently, the Chargers claimed a 3-1 victory on Tuesday at American International behind a career-high 24 kills from Amber Cannady (Yonkers, N.Y./Charles E. Gorton) on .697 hitting.
 
For the season, Cannady ranks second in the Northeast-10 with 3.77 kills per set while leading all players with a .401 hitting percentage. She is one of only two NE-10 student-athletes ranks in the top 10 in both statistical categories and also leads the conference in blocks with 1.44 per set – also slotting her at third in all of Division II.
 
The rest of the Chargers balanced offensive attack features Ashley Dalton (Helena, Mont./Capital / Northern Arizona University) and Kristy Atufunwa (Denver, Colo./Denver East) alongside Cannady in the middle with Margo Meteyer (Madison, Wis./Madison West) and Kristen Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) leading the way on the outside. Kaulana Ane (Paia, Hawai'i/Kamehameha) has been the club's primary setter with 8.16 assists per frame.

In the back row, Kea-Marie Olaso (Kailua, Hawai'i/Le Jardin Academy) ranks third in the NE-10 with a team-best 5.23 digs per set from the libero position. Ane, Meteyer, Lee and Meghan Kennelly (Detroit, Mich./Eisenhower) are all averaging better than 2.00 digs per frame as well.
 
In the serving game, Olaso has landed 21 service aces with Meteyer and Lee dropping in 10 winners apiece.
 
Merrimack has won four-straight matches and seven of its last nine since and 0-5 start to enter the weekend with a record of 7-7 overall and 2-0 in Northeast-10 action. The Warriors most recently took a 3-1 victory at Saint Anselm on Tuesday evening.
 
Reigning AVCA National Player of the Week Stephanie Sheehan heads the Warriors' offense with a conference-leading 4.06 kills per set while hitting .240. Jennifer Cain and Jackie Jones supplement the offense with 2.17 and 2.03 kills per set, respectively. Setter Tara Stuhr leads the Northeast-10 with 10.23 assists per frame, and Madison Burke is the NE-10 leader in digs with 5.65 per set.
 
Currently ranked No. 8 in the nation, Nebraska-Kearney visits the East Coast with a record of 15-2; the Lopers will play at Pace on Friday night before coming to Charger Gymnasium. UNK has registered wins over three national-ranked foes with its two setbacks coming on a neutral court to No. 11 Angelo State and at No. 15 Washburn. Last fall, the Lopers won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular season and tournament championship en route to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, where they were knocked off by eventual national champion Concordia-St. Paul.
 
Ashley Leitner averages a team-best 4.04 kills per set to lead a club featuring five student-athletes with at least 2.00 kills per frame. Of all Lopers averaging more than two swings per set, Ellie Pesavento holds the team lead with a .396 hitting percentage.

Setter Erin Seele has handed out 11.35 assists per set, and MJ Massanet and 2012 AVCA First Team All-America Liz McGowan helm the back row with 4.18 and 3.94 digs per set, respectively.
 
Following this weekend's action, the Chargers host NYIT on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. That match will be broadcast live in high definition and free of charge on NewHavenChargers.com.