Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Volleyball team continues their home stand as they prepare to take on the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils this Friday and Saturday. The match is set to begin at 6:00 PM at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. 

Laker Outlook 

Mercyhurst enters the matchup with a 2-14 overall record, including a 1-5 mark in NEC play. The Lakers have seen solid performances from Paige Miller, who leads the team with 165 kills, averaging 3.11 kills per set, while hitting at a .207 clip. Miller sits fourth in the Northeast Conference in points per set with 3.53. Setter Alia Mastromatteo continues to be the playmaker for Mercyhurst with a team-high 185 assists. Defensively, Kaitlin Murphy has been a presence at the net with 35 total blocks, while Kelsie Gaiter-Davis leads the team in digs with 156. 

A Look at Central Connecticut State 

Central Connecticut State comes into the match with a 2-16 overall record, including an 0-6 mark in conference play. Olivia Keckler has been their standout performer, leading the team with 101 kills, averaging 1.68 kills per set. Setter Larissa Hiemer has added 208 assists to pace the offense.  Defensively, CCSU is led by Annabelle Denommé with 65 digs, while Kaylin Hadley contributes on the blocking front with 58.5 points and 38 kills.  

What to Watch For 

• Key players: The offensive performances of Paige Miller for Mercyhurst and Olivia Keckler for Central Connecticut State will be crucial in determining the outcome. 

• Service pressure: Both teams will need to focus on their service games, with Mercyhurst averaging 1.59 aces per set and CCSU at 1.63 aces per set. 

• Blocking battle: Watch for Kaitlin Murphy and the Lakers' blocking efforts against CCSU's attack, which has struggled with efficiency this season. 

Next Up 

Following the matches against CCSU, Mercyhurst will continue their home stand as they host LIU in a Northeast Conference clash next weekend.