MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University volleyball coach Steve Hendricks continues to stress the importance of passing in his team's game plan. This weekend, the Buccaneers will have a key test to pass if they are to make a move up in the Sunshine State Conference standings.

Barry (4-3, 2-3 SSC) will host Rollins (4-7, 3-4) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Bucs will entertain fourth-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic (12-0, 7-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday. A win over the Tars Friday would move the Buccaneers into fourth place in the league.

The Bucs split with Rollins last season, winning at home. 

The Tars enter the match hitting .183, while the Bucs are attacking at a .222 clip. Barry is holding opponents to a .145 hitting percentage. Teams are hitting .197 against Rollins. Bri Civiero ranks fourth in the SSC in kills per set at 3.79. Setter Cassidy Cason is third in assists per set at 10.26.

PBA leads the SSC in attack percentage, kills, assists and blocks, making the Sailfish the clear frontrunner in the league. The Sailfish are hitting .276, while holding opponents to .114. Ally Rohn, the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Player of the Week, is hitting .325 and averaging 3.66 kills per set -- both which rank in the top six in the conference. Maddie Span leads the league in blocking with 48.

Barry dropped both matches to PBA last season. The Sailfish have been ranked in the last eight matches against the Buccaneers. This is the highest ranking PBA carries in the series with the Bucs.


NET NOTES
Barry is 35-25 all time against Rollins ... The Bucs are 12-13 against Palm Beach Atlantic ... Barry senior Jaeda Allen is 15 kills away from reaching 500 in her two-year Bucs career.