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Brooklyn — The lights continue to shine bright in the city that never sleeps.
 
Coming out of NEC play as regular season champs for the 12th time in program history with a nearly unscathed mark of 15-1, LIU, the most storied team in conference history, stole the show once again with a 3-1 win over second-seeded Saint Francis in the NEC Women's Volleyball title match on Saturday night in Brooklyn. 
 
The title boosted LIU’s count to 13, a mark that is eight more than the next closest conference competitor.
 
League history was also made in Brooklyn as LIU head coach Tony Trifonov became the first coach in NEC women’s volleyball history to direct two different teams to the NEC Championship. This year’s banner-raising campaign comes one year after the former Chicago State skipper piloted the Cougars to the mountaintop of the conference in their inaugural season as an NEC member. 
 
Saint Francis (20-9) came out of the gates hot and took the opening set by a 25-20 final. Momentum continued to swing in the direction of the Red Flash as they opened the second set with a 10-3 lead, but the Sharks came firing back with a big blow of their own and ultimately took the tightly-contested set by a 26-24 final. 
 
After another barrage of blows were traded between the two squads, LIU (20-8), which took the third set by a 25-21 final, jumped out to a 12-5 advantage in the fourth. The Red Flash came alive down the stretch to trim what was a nine-point disadvantage down to four at 22-18, but junior outside hitter Sara van Gisteren delivered two of her team’s final three kills to secure the Sharks’ second title since 2023. 
 
Van Gisteren, an All-NEC first team member, was bestowed with NEC Most Valuable Performer distinction after her impressive performance on the weekend. Leading a Sharks’ offense that put up a sizzling .341 hitting percentage, she racked up 33 kills and a tournament-leading six service aces during the two-day stretch. In the final, she finished with a 23 kills and four service aces - both game-highs - to go along with eight digs.
 
Van Gisteren was also named to the NEC All-Tournament Team, where she was joined by fellow teammates, first team members and major award winners Karly Klaer (Setter of the Year) and Miabella Musignac (Defensive Player of the Year).
 
Saint Francis, which reached the NEC title match for the first time since 2008, was led by senior outside hitters Korrin Burns and Kori McClure, who combined for 32 kills in the final. The duo also represented the Red Flash on the All-Tournament Team. 
 
LIU will learn its 2025 NCAA Tournament opponent during the NCAA Division I Selection Show, which is set to air on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

All-Tournament Team
Sara van Gisteren, LIU (MVP)
Karly Klaer, LIU
Miabella Musignac, LIU
Korrin Burns, Saint Francis 
Kori McClure, Saint Francis
Kyle Nott, FDU
Kaitlin Murphy, Mercyhurst