Friday, September 30th vs. Albany (7pm)
University Gym; Albany, N.Y.
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Twitter: @RiverHawkVB @RiverHawkNation 

Sunday, October 2nd vs. Binghamton (1pm)
West Gym; Binghamton, N.Y.
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Twitter: @RiverHawkVB @RiverHawkNation 

SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS: UMass Lowell enters first full weekend of conference play with a 5-10 overall record and an 0-1 record in America East play.  The River Hawks took a hard fought 3-2 loss to Hartford in the America East opener this past Saturday at Costello Athletic Center. Freshman Madi Bell (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) managed a career and match-high 16 kills in the losing effort, while sophomore setter Delaney Mendez (Phoenix, Ariz.) also had a solid outing with a career-high 51 assists.

The River Hawks play their next three matches on the road, which also includes a mid-week match at Bryant next Wednesday, October 5^th.

The team ranks fourth in America East with 1.65 blocks per set and 1.40 services aces per set.

Bell leads the River Hawks' roster with 137 kills and her 2.54 kills per set ranks second on the roster. Mendez's 329 assists also paces the team, while sophomore libero Lindsey Vivardis (Homer Glen, Ill.) has amassed a team-high 215 digs and 22 service aces.  Visvardis posted 22 digs against Hartford on Saturday, which marked her fourth 20 dig effort of the season.

Senior middle blocker Lauren Bennett (Wilmington, Mass.) leads the roster with 42 total blocks. Bennett notched six blocks against the Hawks in her last match and has tallied 3 blocks in seven contests so far in 2016.

Sophomore outside hitter Haley Shimon (Des Moines, Iowa) ranks second on the team with 131 kills and 2.38 kills per set. Her 10 kills in eight matches this season leads the River Hawks' roster. Shimon posted a season-high 15 kills at Boston College on September 10^th.

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES: Albany owns a 7-6 overall record (1-0 AE) to date after a 3-1 win at Binghamton last Friday night. Laini Leindecker notched 14 kills and 12 digs in the victory. The Great Danes enter Friday's contest on a five-match winning streak with victories against, Army, St. John's, UConn and South Florida. Leindecker leads the team with 158 kills and 3.16 kills per set. Friday's home match for Albany is its first of the season.  The Great Danes won both meetings of the season series last year, which included a 3-0 victory in the most recent match up on November 13^th at Costello Athletic Center.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS: Binghamton is 6-8 overall (0-1 AE) after a 3-1 loss to Albany on Friday. Lauren Kornmann leads the team with 129 kills. The Bearcats are 3-2 in their last five matches and have a 0-1 record at home so far this season. Binghamton will face Hartford on September 30 before facing the River Hawks on Sunday. Binghamton won both meeting vs. UMass Lowell, including a 3-0 win at UMass Lowel in the last meeting between the teams on November 15^th.  

AMERICA EAST LEADERS: Mendez ranks seventh among America East setters with 7.15 assists/set, while Visvardis' 0.40 service aces per set, which ranks tied for third in the league and her 3.91 digs/set is fourth best. Bennett's 0.85 blocks per set is fifth best, while sophomore middle blocker Lade Adeniyi (Springfield, Ill.) ranks ninth in blocks at 0.75 per frame.