The UMBC Volleyball team begins its quest to defend its three-straight America East titles when it plays a pair of matches to open conference play this weekend. The Retrievers travel to Bryant for a 7 p.m. match on Friday, before returning home to face New Hampshire in a rematch of the 2022 America East Championship on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Sunday's match will be the annual "Pink Match" to support the fight against breast cancer.

UMBC will be returning to play after nine days off following a mid-week match at No.8 Pitt on September 20. The Retrievers went 6-5 in their grueling 11 game stretch against top-level opponents to open the season.

Scouting Bryant:

• The last time the Retrievers faced Bryant was on November 19, 2022 in the America East semifinals at BinghamtonI which the Retrievers won 3-1 after dropping the first set.

• The Bulldogs are currently 10-7 overall with a recent win against Le Moyne.

• Junior Aubrey Lapour leads the team in kills with 222 and a 3.47 K/S.

• Senior Josie Deluga leads in digs with 233.

• The teams split the regular season series last year

Scouting New Hampshire:

• The last time the Retrievers faced the Wildcats was on November 20, 2022 in Binghamton when UMBC swept UNH to win the America East Championship

• The Wildcats are currently 9-5 overall with a recent win against Dartmouth.

• Senior Kelly Kaufmann leads the team with 120 kills and 49 blocks.

• Senior Camryn Honn leads in assists with 268.

• The teams split the regular season series last year, with each team winning on the road