VILLANOVA, Pa. – It's a return to the Jake Nevin Field House for Villanova volleyball (11-4, 4-0 BIG EAST), who will host the No. 6 Creighton Bluejays and RV Marquette Golden Eagles for conference bouts on Friday and Sunday.

Both matches are part of Youth Weekend and Friday night marks VU's annual "Pink Out" Cancer Awareness event. The organization Unite for HER, which works to support patients of breast and ovarian cancer with services and resources at no personal cost, will be in attendance and accepts online donations at https://uniteforher.org/donate/.

THESE 'CATS ARE ON FIRE
It's an eight-match winning streak for Villanova and the first 4-0 start to BIG EAST play since 2011. The 'Cats have dropped just three of their last 24 sets played dating back to September 14, sweeping four opponents in that stretch including a pair of league foes. Villanova's conference lidlifter weekend was of critical importance as the Wildcats secured the tiebreaker over Georgetown and Seton Hall after wins in the lone matchup of the year against each school. The 'Cats have a tough test this weekend with the two conference frontrunners, but have set themselves up well in the early goings of league play.

ONCOMING OZZIE
While the freshmen have taken a lot of the spotlight this year for Villanova, the Wildcats have gotten important production from a senior who had only seen five sets of action in her previous three years. Ozzie Ozonoh has started every match this season for VU, totaling 63 kills and 49 blocks as a physical middle. Ozonoh's blocking prowess has been on full display, leading the Wildcats in solo blocks (10) while tallying more than three rejections in 10 separate matches. The California native is the conference leader in hitting percentage during BIG EAST matches and now has over five kills on seven occasions.

CHECKING OUT CREIGHTON

• The Bluejays come into Jake Nevin Field House with a 13-2 overall record, winners of six straight with an unblemished 4-0 conference mark and the highest AVCA ranking in program history at No. 6. Creighton is top in the BIG EAST for hitting percentage, assists, kills, blocks and opponent hitting percentage.
• Ten-time defending league champions, CU was unanimously projected to win the conference. Norah Sis was named the Preseason Player of the Year and currently ranks top 100 nationally for kills and points per set, plus third in the BIG EAST for kills and ninth in aces.
• Reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year Kendra Wait has racked up 578 assists to pace the conference in helpers and rank 11th nationally in that category. Middles Kiara Reinhardt and Elise Goetzinger lead the league in blocks while Penn State transfer and libero Maddy Bilinovic sits third in the BIG EAST for digs.

A GANDER AT THE GOLDEN EAGLES

• Marquette enters the Main Line at 7-6 overall, 3-1 in conference with sweeps of Connecticut, Providence and Butler and a four-set loss to Creighton. MU is the conference's leader in digs with the second-top marks in both blocks and opponent hitting percentage.
• The Golden Eagles were selected second in the preseason coaches' poll with a quartet of all-conference selections, led by unanimous choice and kills leader Aubrey Hamilton.
• Setter Yadhira Anchante ranks third in the league for assists and eighth in digs, while middle blocker Carsen Murray leads the BIG EAST and sits 35th nationally in hitting percentage. As a unit, the Golden Eagles are top 50 in the country for aces and digs per set.

Both matches will stream on FloSports and feature stats on StatBroadcast, with Friday set for a 6 p.m. start and Sunday's opening serve at 1:05.