FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team has a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matches in Connecticut this weekend, as the Pioneers battle Merrimack at Fairfield on Saturday and are at Quinnipiac on Sunday. 

SHU VS MERRIMACK MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart vs. Merrimack (at Fairfield) – Saturday, October 5; 7:00 p.m. 

SHU AT QUINNIPIAC MATCH INFORMATION 
Sacred Heart at Quinnipiac – Sunday, October 6; 1:00 p.m. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers battled Fairfield on Wednesday in a clash of two of the MAAC preseason favorites. SHU had a lead in both the first and second sets, but both times, the Stags rallied to take 26-24 victories. Fairfield won the third frame comfortably to seal a hard-fought win. The duo of Camryn Luginbuhl and Allison Murray led the way for the Pioneers, with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.

ANOTHER RECORD BITES THE DUST
Luginbuhl took down another record this past weekend as she reset the program's three-set record in kills with 24 in a sweep of Iona on Sunday. She hit a whopping .550 on 40 attempts, tallying almost half of the team's 50 kills. The senior outside hitter also added 14 digs for her second straight double-double. 

Luginbuhl was named the MAAC Player of the Week for her outstanding weekend. She recorded 48 kills (6.00/set), 29 digs (3.63/set) and 50.5 points (6.31/set) with a pair of double-doubles. Luginbuhl is a two-time Player of the Week, also receiving the honor on Sept. 10. 

STRONG LEAGUE START
For the third straight season, the Pioneers open conference play 2-0. SHU began its last two NEC slates with two consecutive wins, claiming the league's regular-season title both times. 

BACK IN CT
This week's trio of matches marks an important stretch for the Pioneers, as they will be playing in their home state for the first time in over a month. SHU last played in the Nutmeg State on Sept. 1, going 2-1 at the UConn Invitational.

LOOKING ACROSS THE NET
Merrimack 

• The Warriors are 2-12 overall this season and 1-2 in the MAAC after falling to Quinnipiac in their most recent contest. 
• Merrimack topped Saint Peter's in four sets in their lone league win so far this year. 
• The duo of Julz Carlat and Hannah Webber lead the Warriors' attack with 136 and 113 kills, respectively. 
• Carlat was on fire in Merrimack's win over the Peacocks, finishing with a match-high 19 kills.
• Defensively, senior libero Lauryn Mattiucci paces the team with 129 (2.43/set).

Quinnipiac

• The Bobcats opened the MAAC slate 2-1 and are 5-10 on the season. 
• Quinnipiac sandwiched a five-set loss to Saint Peter's in between wins over Rider and Merrimack.
• Elena Giacomini has been fantastic for Quinnipiac at the start of the season, ranking in the top 30 in the country in attacks (649), points (256) and kills (216). 
• The grad student from Italy has also been a strong defender, as she averages 2.42 digs per set and has seven double-doubles this season. 
• Giacomini and setter Damla Gunes have formed a formidable duo, as Gunes is second in the MAAC with 8.52 assists per set.