The College of Staten Island women’s volleyball team is back in action this afternoon as part of CUNYAC play, looking to break a five-game skid in the process when they host both Lehman College and City College of New York as part of tri-match action at the Sports & Recreation Center.  CSI will face off against Lehman at 11am, then Lehman will play CCNY at 1pm, followed by CSI playing CCNY at 3pm.

CSI vs LEHMAN COLLEGE / CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK
Matchup:  CSI (3-13, 2-3 CUNYAC) vs. Lehman College (2-16, 1-3 CUNYAC) / CCNY (3-13, 1-3 CUNYAC)
Where: College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314
All-Time Series: vs. Lehman – Lehman leads 34-6-1 / vs. CCNY – CCNY leads 24-8
Players to Watch (CSI): CSI’s offense continues to be tempered by Caitlin Esposito, who leads the team with 86 kills and 360 total attacks.  Teresa Maresca is right behind at 71 kills on just 205 attacks, good for a team-best .176 attack percentage.  Maresca also leads the team with 30 aces.  Defensively look for Margaret O’Malley-Rebovic to provide a spark in the middle as she leads the team with 26 blocks.
Players to Watch (LC):  Caitlin Vernon is the catalyst for the Lightning offensively with 84 kills   Samantha Delgado has been the most efficient with a .117 percentage on 94 attacks good for 24 kills.  Look for Paulette Sepulveda to steady the team defensively as she leads the team with 135 digs, 36 more than any other Lightning player.
Players to Watch (CCNY): The Beavers go with a two-pronged offensive attack as they are being led by both Yana Shaposhnikova and Camila Franco-Diaz’ with 73 kills apiece.  Saposhnikova also leads with 35 aces this season while Franco-Diaz has 154 digs to lead the team.
News & Notes: All three of these teams are in the middle of a playoff race where only six teams will make the final tournament.  Right now CSI is in 5th place with a 2-3 record but both Lehman and CCNY are a half game back and can make up that ground and more today.  History is on the side of the visiting teams today.  Lehman has won 14 in a row over the Dolphins and you’d have to go back to 2007 to tab CSI’s last win over the Lightning here at Staten Island, a 3-0 win as part of postseason play.  CSI ‘s last regular season win against Lehman in Staten Island was way back in 1989.  CSI has won the last three games against CCNY including one on Staten Island in 2015.  Prior to this recent run, CCNY had won 17 straight in the series.