LAKELAND, Fla. -- SEU Volleyball returns to action this week with a pair of Sun Conference matchups as the Fire continue their charge toward postseason play. SEU will host New College of Florida on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. inside The Furnace for the program's annual Pink Out Match, raising awareness in the fight against breast cancer. The Fire then travel south for a Saturday 2 p.m. contest at Ave Maria University, looking to extend their win streak and strengthen their place atop the conference standings.
Tune In and Turn Up the Heat
Fans can catch both matches live on the Urban Edge Network App, available on smart TVs and mobile devices, or stream online at
fire.seu.edu/watchUEN. Live statistics for each match will be available at
fire.seu.edu/sidearmstats/wvball/summary, and tickets for Wednesday's Pink Out and other home events can be purchased at
fire.seu.edu/tickets.
Fueling the Fire
The Fire enter the week red-hot, riding a seven-match win streak with a 16-2 overall record and 7-1 mark in Sun Conference play. Southeastern is unbeaten at home (7-0), 4-1 on the road, and 5-1 at neutral sites, ranking among the top statistical teams in the NAIA. SEU currently sits 15th nationally in kills per set (13.33), 25th in attack percentage (.218), and 14th in assists per set (12.61), while their defense ranks 6th in digs per set (18.74)—a testament to the Fire's balance and depth on both ends of the floor.
Furnace of Fortune
Since going winless at home in 2020, Southeastern has transformed The Furnace into one of the toughest venues in the country. Over the past five seasons, the Fire boast an incredible 42-6 home record, including a perfect 7-0 mark this year. That run also features an astounding 20 wins in the last 21 home matches dating back to 2023, solidifying Lakeland as a true home-court fortress for SEU volleyball.
Heating Up the Standings
With four weeks left in the regular season, Southeastern remains squarely in contention for the Sun Conference regular-season title, sitting tied for first at 7-1 (.875) with St. Thomas. The top six teams qualify for the Sun Tournament, with the top two earning byes to the semifinals, and the regular-season champion hosting the semifinals and final. Seeds three and four will host quarterfinal matches.Â
Bonomi's Blaze
Outside hitter
Laura Bonomi continues to shine as one of the nation's elite attackers, ranking first in the Sun Conference and eighth in the NAIA in kills per set (4.20) while hitting .293—third-best in the league. She's also lethal from the service line, sitting second in the Sun and sixth nationally in aces per set (0.69). A complete six-rotation standout, Bonomi adds 224 digs and 10 total blocks, making her one of the most complete players in the country.
Lopez on the Loose
Yarelis Lopez ranks fourth in the Sun in kills per set (3.23) and fifth in aces per set (0.41), giving SEU a powerful one-two punch at the net. Her defensive work has been equally impressive, posting 234 digs (3.84 per set) and 17 blocks. Lopez's versatility and veteran leadership continue to fuel SEU's momentum and consistency down the stretch.
Maske Makes Her Mark
Right-side
Emily Maske brings balance and power to the Fire's attack, registering 123 kills (2.37 per set) on a .240 hitting percentage while contributing 21 total blocks. Her ability to terminate rallies and provide strong coverage on the block has made her one of SEU's most reliable scoring threats in key moments.
Ceroni in Control
Middle blocker
Lucrezia Ceroni leads SEU's blocking unit with 46 total blocks (0.78 per set)—just outside the Sun's top five—while adding 61 kills on the offensive end. Her net-front poise and timing have anchored SEU's interior defense, creating crucial momentum swings throughout conference play.
Speer It Up
Setter
Haven Speer ranks fourth in the Sun Conference in assists per set (6.59), orchestrating one of the NAIA's most efficient offenses. She's tallied 402 assists, 111 digs, and nine aces, helping the Fire maintain offensive rhythm and balance through a wide distribution of hitters.
Connors Keeps It Clean
Senior libero
Marysa Connors stands among the top defensive players in the Sun, ranking fifth in digs per set (5.00). Her steady presence in serve-receive and ability to neutralize opposing attacks have been instrumental in SEU's defensive dominance, with opponents hitting just .094 against the Fire this season. Connors has also added 10 service aces to round out her complete performance.
The Banyan Boost
New College of Florida enters the week at 12-2 overall and 7-2 in the Sun, quickly establishing itself as one of the league's emerging powers. The Mighty Banyans average 13.23 kills per set while hitting .238 as a team, led by setter Rafaela Domingos (10.96 assists/set) and the high-scoring duo of Wiktoria Telecka (3.78 kills/set) and Jayleen Santiago (3.60 kills/set). Defensively, Maria Luiza Barreis ranks among the NAIA's best with 5.77 digs per set, helping New College limit opponents to a .147 hitting percentage.
In the series, SEU holds a 2-1 all-time advantage. The Fire swept the 2024 meetings but dropped the first 2025 encounter, a 3-0 result in Sarasota. Wednesday marks the Banyans' first-ever trip to Lakeland as conference contenders, setting up a critical late-season showdown.
Gyrenes in the Grind
Ave Maria enters the week at 5-11 overall and 4-4 in Sun play, showing resilience with recent wins over Keiser and Warner while narrowly falling to New College in five sets. The Gyrenes are paced by Beatriz Rissi (.277 hitting, 1.84 kills/set) and Emily Child (2.20 kills/set), while setter Caroline Myers directs the offense with 4.76 assists per set. Maylis DeTar leads the defense at 3.78 digs per set, anchoring a scrappy backcourt unit.
Southeastern has historically dominated the series, holding a 27-9 all-time record against Ave Maria, including six straight wins and victories in seven of the last ten. SEU swept the Gyrenes earlier this season and will look to continue that trend on the road this weekend.
On the Horizon
Looking ahead, Southeastern continues its busy stretch with two more matches next week. The Fire will visit Florida College on Tuesday, October 21 at 7 p.m. in Temple Terrace for a non-conference matchup, then return home on Saturday, October 25 at 2 p.m. to host Keiser University for Senior Day inside The Furnace. The celebration will honor SEU's senior class while providing another opportunity for the Fire to solidify their postseason standing as the regular season winds down.
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