Just three weeks into her final year with Hofstra, senior libero Kylee Maneja is poised not just to break the mark for career digs but shatter it completely.

The 2009 Sacred Hearts graduate is 11 digs away from surpassing another local product, Shellane Ogoshi, who holds the record with 1,660 in her career.

Ogoshi, a Roosevelt graduate who now coaches at Long Island University, was an assistant coach at Hofstra while Maneja was being recruited.

"I saw her play a couple of times back in Hawaii and she’s really known here for her volleyball skills," Maneja said. "It’s going to be a big honor if it does happen because it means your name will be in the school record books and part of the history of (the program)."

Hofstra finished one win short of the record to start the season, going 8-0 before suffering a three-set loss to Seton Hall on Tuesday night.

The Pride went undefeated in both tournaments they held, winning the Hofstra Asics Invitational two weeks ago and the Hofstra Invitational on Saturday.

Before Tuesday’s loss, Hofstra had been pushed to five sets just once, beating Siena (N.Y.) behind 25 digs by Maneja, whose career high for a match is 33.

"I think everyone has improved a lot this year, actually, and a lot of people have stepped up to take on a leadership role," Maneja said. "I’m a very vocal person on the court and lots of people look up to me because of that and because I’m a senior, but a lot of other people are doing the same."

Maneja is one of three seniors on the team and cautions against getting overly optimistic over early success.

Hofstra won its first seven matches last season, but finished three games under .500 and just 5-9 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

"I would say this is a much more mature and competitive team than in years past," Maneja said. "We had players win individual honors last year, but we couldn’t mesh as a team … and I think we’re a lot closer and will go far this year."

Hofstra is located in Long Island, N.Y., about a 40-minute bus ride from the city.

It was the first school in the New York area to recruit Maneja and she made her first visit to the city on a recruiting trip.

"Once I visited I wanted to commit right away," she said. "I fell in love with the place."

Maneja makes sure to visit Hawaii every winter and summer break, but says she won’t return home just yet once school ends.

"I want to go to nursing school somewhere and my plans right now are all over the place, but I know I’m not ready to come home just yet," she said.

While in New York, Maneja says there’s one thing she hopes to do before she leaves.

"I’ve never been to a (New York) Knicks game," she said. "I’m always busy in the spring with offseason training, but since I won’t this year, hopefully I can go to a game."