MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University's volleyball team will play the next three weekends on the road, beginning with Friday's 7 p.m. match at No. 21 Florida Southern. The Buccaneers also meet Eckerd 4 p.m. Saturday.

This road trip marks the most significant stretch of the season for the Bucs (8-3, 2-1 Sunshine State Conference). Florida Southern (9-3, 3-1) and Eckerd (9-4, 3-1) occupy the top two spots in the SSC standings. Wins over the top teams in the league would help the Bucs case of making their first NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Steve Hendricks.

Florida Southern setter Bethany Besancenez leads the league in assists per set at 11.1. Ana Tovo's 212 kills leads the SSC. The Moccasins are hitting .232 as a team, which ranks second in the league. Barry is holding opponents to a league-low .135, which ranks 33rd in the country.

Eckerd's Gabriella Reis also is one of the best setters in the conference. She is averaging 10.24 assists per set. Kaitlyn Sibson's 235 digs are third in the SSC. The Tritons are the top defensive team in the league, averaging 16.49 digs per set. Barry is averaging 15.78 digs per set, which is tied for fourth in the conference.

The Bucs rank 36th in the nation in aces per set at 1.88. Jaeda Allen ranks 26th nationally at 0.54 aces per set. Kristina Filimonova ranks 45th in the nation in blocks per set (1.08) and hitting percentage (.350).

Barry will meet No. 19 Tampa and Saint Leo on the road the following weekend before heading to the South Region Crossover in Orlando Oct. 14-15.

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