No. 23 New College of Florida volleyball returns to Sun Conference play Saturday as the Mighty Banyans travel to Ave Maria to face the Gyrenes at 2 p.m.
NCF enters the match at 13-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play after rallying to force a fifth set in Monday's loss at Florida College. The Mighty Banyans sit third in The Sun Conference standings.
Saturday will be the second meeting between the teams this season. NCF earned a 3-1 victory over Ave Maria on Sept. 5 at Bradenton Christian School and holds a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series.
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MATCH NOTES
A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST MEETING
NCF defeated Ave Maria 3-1 in the Sun Conference opener on Sept. 5, winning 23-25, 25-10, 25-15 and 27-25.
After dropping the opening set, the Mighty Banyans outscored the Gyrenes 50-25 across the next two frames. NCF hit .517 without committing an attacking error in the third set before prevailing in a fourth set that featured 13 ties and seven lead changes.
The Mighty Banyans finished with 11 service aces and 12 solo blocks while holding Ave Maria to a .008 hitting percentage.
Wiktoria Telecka led NCF with 18 kills, six service aces and four blocks for 27.5 points. Addison Phillippe distributed 43 assists, while Khalia Horta collected a match-high 28 digs.
A HISTORIC WEEK FOR THE PROGRAM
NCF enters Saturday ranked No. 23 in the latest NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, marking the first national ranking in program history.
The Mighty Banyans were also No. 18 in the NAIA's Oct. 6 Ratings Percentage Index with an RPI of .625.
NCF's résumé includes a sweep of then-No. 24 Mobile, which was No. 32 in the latest RPI, and two 3-1 victories over No. 48 William Carey. The Mighty Banyans have also defeated No. 60 Keiser, No. 65 Reinhardt and No. 66 Life.
NCF is one of three Sun Conference programs in the national poll, joining No. 10 St. Thomas and No. 15 Southeastern.
A CHANCE TO CHANGE THE ROAD SCRIPT
The Mighty Banyans are 1-4 in true road matches this season but have faced three nationally ranked opponents away from home.
NCF's road victory came in a five-set match at Webber on Sept. 30. The Mighty Banyans will look to carry that result into another conference road test Saturday.
POSITIONING IN THE SUN RACE
NCF enters the weekend third in The Sun Conference with a 5-2 league record.
The Mighty Banyans trail first-place St. Thomas, which is 7-0, and second-place Southeastern, which is 5-1. Ave Maria enters Saturday in sixth place at 2-5.
A victory would give NCF six conference wins and secure the regular-season sweep of the Gyrenes.
PRESSURE MEETS RESISTANCE
NCF leads The Sun Conference with 195 service aces and 2.95 aces per set. The Mighty Banyans have also produced a conference-best 1,128 points and 17.1 points per set.
Ave Maria counters with several of the conference's top defensive players. Maylis Detar ranks third in The Sun with 289 digs and 4.82 digs per set.
Lucy Hudson ranks seventh in the conference with 0.67 blocks per set, while Lillian Dauses ranks ninth at 0.60 blocks per set.
RESPONDING AFTER A FIVE-SET FIGHT
NCF enters Saturday following a five-set loss at Florida College in which the Mighty Banyans rallied after dropping the opening two sets.
The Mighty Banyans won the third and fourth frames to extend the match before falling 15-11 in the deciding set.
Saturday gives NCF an opportunity to respond while returning to conference competition for the first time since its four-set victory over Keiser on Oct. 3.
KNOW THE OPPONENT: AVE MARIA
2026 Record: 6-6, 2-5
Record vs. NCF All-Time: NCF leads, 4-1
Last Match: 3-1 loss to Webber International on Oct. 3
Key Player: Emily Child (159 kills, 2.65 kills per set, 174.5 points and 2.91 points per set)
UP NEXT: NCF returns home Wednesday, Oct. 14, to host No. 15 Southeastern at 4:15 p.m. at Bradenton Christian School.
