FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern volleyball team (11-13, 4-8 SSC) will host No. 16 Florida Southern (20-5,10-2 SSC) Friday, at 7 p.m., and Saint Leo (18-9, 7-5 SSC), Saturday at 4 p.m., at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center.

NSU moved up a spot in SSC rankings after defeating Florida Tech, 3-2 (21-25, 28-26, 25-22, 20-25, 15-12). In the match, Katie Pyles (So., Denver, Colo.) notched a double-double in the match with 10 kills and a season-high 48 assists. Dana Holger (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) was one short of a double-double with a team-high 18 kills and nine digs, followed by Sydney Cook (Jr., Miami, Fla.), who posted a season-high .355 hitting percentage with 17 kills. Candice Johnson (Sr., Chuluota, Fla.) was stellar on defense with a career-high 30 digs. 

Caitlin Donahue (Jr., Miami, Fla.), continues to rank among the leaders in SSC hitting percentage, while Cook lands back in the top ten in kills with 134 (avg. 2.98 per set). Devyn Main (Fr., Port Charlotte, Fla.) joins the block party by ranking sixth in SSC blocks with 38 (avg. .80 per set), followed by Cook with 36 blocks (avg. .80 per set).

The weekend matches against Florida Southern and Saint Leo mark the last time the team will host  SSC contests over a weekend. NSU will finish the season out with Barry on Tuesday at home and Tampa away on Saturday.

No. 16 Florida Southern Mocs
The Florida Southern Mocs are ranked No. 2 in the South Region after the 2014 NCAA Division II Regional Rankings were released on Wednesday, Nov. 5. The Mocs rank high in every category, falling second to No. 1 Tampa in hitting percentage, assists and kills. They lead the league in blocks, service aces and digs.  Kayshia Brady is third in hitting percentage at .408, placing tenth in kills with 92 (2.79 avg. per set). Brindi Langley is first in service aces with 25 (av. .61 per set), while Kali Skayan ranks second in assists with 407 (avg. 9.93 per set).

Most recently, the Mocs swept No. 21 Palm Beach Atlantic (25-22, 25-21, 25-8). Florida Southern's defense held the Sailfish to an -.008 hitting percentage and forced them into 28 attack errors. The win marked the team's third straight and 33rd all-time 20 win season.

The Sharks and Mocs met nearly a month ago on Nov. 4, with NSU falling 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-17). Despite the loss, Pyles pulled a double-double in the match with 21 assists and 13 digs. Natalie Melcher (Fr., Rishon Letzion, Israel) led the team in kills with 13, followed by Donahue who posted six. Kaelyn Brock (La Quinta, Calif.) had a career-high 11 digs with Johnson posting a team-high 18 digs.

Saint Leo Lions
The Lions are ranked fourth in SSC hitting percentage, assists, kills and service aces. Alexa Griffith is third in the SSC in kill with 142 (avg. 3.23 per set), while Yaidimar Santiago is first in digs with 252 (avg. 5.73 per set).

In the Lions' last competition against No. 1 Tampa, Santiago broke the single-season digs record of 549. Tawni Warren led the Lions offensively against No. 1 Tampa, bringing in eight kills on a .467 hitting percentage.

The Sharks fell to the Lions in their last contest, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 26-24). Cook had a team-high 14 kills, followed by Melcher, Holger and Pyles who tallied five apiece.  Pyles led the offense with 25 assists and Johnson  posted a match-high 12 digs.

To follow the matches via live stats click here. For audio/video click here.