New College of Florida volleyball opens Sun Conference play Saturday as the Mighty Banyans host Ave Maria at 7 p.m. at Bradenton Christian School.

NCF (8-1, 0-0) enters its conference opener following a split at last weekend's Florida College Lady Falcons Classic in Temple Terrace. The Mighty Banyans swept Life University, 3-0, before suffering their first loss of the season in a 3-1 setback against Florida College.

Saturday will mark the fifth all-time meeting between NCF and Ave Maria, with the Mighty Banyans holding a 3-1 advantage in the series.

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SETTING THE STANDARD

NCF enters conference play atop several Sun Conference statistical categories.

The Mighty Banyans lead the league with 17.14 points per set and 3.14 service aces per set while sharing the conference lead with a .233 hitting percentage.

NCF also ranks second in The Sun Conference with 12.37 kills per set, third with 11.71 assists per set and third with 1.63 blocks per set.

TELECKA LEADS THE ATTACK

Senior Wiktoria Telecka continues to establish herself as one of the top attackers in The Sun Conference and the NAIA.

Telecka leads the conference with 156 kills, 4.46 kills per set and 5.43 points per set. She also ranks third in the league with a .277 hitting percentage and third with 0.74 service aces per set.

Her 4.46 kills per set rank fourth nationally entering the weekend.

Telecka has totaled 190 points and 26 service aces through 35 sets this season.

The senior earned Sun Conference Attacker of the Week honors earlier this season following NCF's perfect 4-0 showing at the La Tribu Invitational. The award marked the fourth conference weekly honor of her NCF career.

NACERO CONTINUES STRONG START

Senior Soraya Nacero gives NCF a second attacker ranked among the conference's best.

Nacero ranks third in The Sun Conference with 3.65 kills per set, fourth with a .275 hitting percentage and second with 4.59 points per set.

She has been particularly effective from the service line, leading the conference with 29 service aces and 0.85 aces per set.

Nacero was named Sun Conference Attacker of the Week following her performance at the Florida College Lady Falcons Classic. She totaled 27 kills across seven sets, averaging 3.86 kills per set while hitting .300.

The senior recorded 10 kills on a .333 hitting percentage in the sweep of Life before finishing with 17 kills and a .283 hitting percentage against Florida College.

The award marked the second Sun Conference Attacker of the Week honor of Nacero's career.

PHILLIPPE DIRECTING THE OFFENSE

Sophomore Addison Phillippe enters conference play as the league leader in assists after another award-winning week.

Phillippe has totaled 368 assists through 35 sets and leads The Sun Conference with 10.51 assists per set. Her 10.51 assists per set also rank eighth nationally.

Phillippe was named Sun Conference Setter of the Week following NCF's trip to the Florida College Lady Falcons Classic, giving her conference Setter of the Week honors in consecutive weeks.

She also earned NAIA National Setter of the Week honors following the La Tribu Invitational after recording 176 assists across 16 sets during NCF's 4-0 weekend in Marietta.

DEFENSIVE PRESENCE

Sophomore Khalia Horta and freshman Katelyn Pulver have helped anchor the Mighty Banyans defensively through the opening nine matches.

Horta leads NCF with 151 digs through 35 sets. Her 4.31 digs per set rank fifth in The Sun Conference.

Pulver leads the Mighty Banyans at the net with 23 total blocks through 34 sets. Her 0.68 blocks per set rank third in the conference.

As a team, NCF enters Saturday ranked third in The Sun Conference with 1.63 blocks per set.

SERIES HISTORY

All-Time Series: NCF leads, 3-1

The Mighty Banyans and Gyrenes split their two meetings last season, with the road team winning each match in five sets.

NCF earned a 3-2 victory at Ave Maria before the Gyrenes answered with a 3-2 victory in Bradenton later in the season.

Saturday will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the programs.

KNOW THE OPPONENT
AVE MARIA 
2026 Record: 4-1 
Record vs. NCF All-Time: 1-3
Last Match: 3-0 win vs. Florida National - Thursday Sept. 3
Key Player: Emily Child (2.80 kills per set, 3.03 points per set, seventh in The Sun Conference in both categories)

UP NEXT: NCF continues Sun Conference play Wednesday when the Mighty Banyans travel to Lakeland to take on No. 25 Southeastern at 6:30 p.m.