POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – This coming weekend the Marist volleyball team (7-10, 4-2 MAAC) will travel to New Jersey for its only road matches in October. The Red Foxes will face Saint Peter's on Oct. 7 and Rider on Oct. 8.
 
First serve for both contests is slated for 1 p.m. Live stats will be available and there will be free live video streams of each match. 
 
STRAIGHT (SET) SHOOTERS
 
The Red Foxes are 3-1 in their last four matches and have gotten all four of their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victories this year in straight sets. Marist's most recent win came at Quinnipiac, as it avenged a loss to the Bobcats in the 2016 MAAC Championship semifinals.
 
Lead by sophomore Nikki DeSerpa's 15 kills, the Red Foxes' attack overpowered Quinnipiac by hitting .202. On the defensive end senior Ashton Korona led the match with five blocks while classmate Kelsey Ediger dove for 13 digs.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
DeSerpa is Marist's top hitter so far as she has 185 kills in 17 matches played this season. She has put up double-digit kills in 10 of those 17 matches.
 
Marist's defense continues to show its hot hands, as it is atop the conference averaging 1.98 blocks per set. Sophomore Megan Fergus has jumped for 45 total blocks to lead all Red Foxes in 2017.
 
SCOUTING REPORTS
 
Saint Peter's Peacocks
 
Saint Peter's (0-17, 0-6 MAAC) is in the midst of a four-match home stretch and most recently fell to Rider, 3-0, on Sept. 30. The Peacocks have gotten strong defensive production from freshman Karla Seda, who is averaging 2.82 digs per set. Sophomore Danielle Lopez has swiped a team-high 15 service aces.
 
Rider Broncs
 
Rider has six 3-0 victories this season, including two against MAAC opponents. It comes into the weekend on a three-match winning streak.
 
The Broncs (9-9, 3-3 MAAC) rank in the top three in the MAAC in some key team statistical categories: first in hitting percentage (.177), third in kills per set (11.46) and second in blocks per set (1.84). Rider's offense is propelled by junior Hailey Riede, who owns a .279 attack percentage and a team-best 192 kills. Senior setter Veronica Koval is second in the conference with a mark of 8.95 assists per set.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
 
Marist will begin a five-match home stand over a two week period when it hosts MAAC leader Fairfield on Oct. 14 and Quinnipiac on Oct. 15. Both matches are set to begin at 1 p.m. in McCann Arena.
 
Sunday afternoon's contest against the Bobcats will be a Study Break match. Co-sponsored by the Marist College offices of First Year Programs, Health and Wellness, and Student Activities, the promotion will include a giveaway to the first 100 students as well as raffles and other fan contests.