The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's volleyball team opened its Northeast Conference schedule with a loss to visiting Sacred Heart on Friday evening, 3-1, at the Rothman Center. The Pioneers improve to 10-6 on the season, while the Knights fall to 3-14.

The Pioneers took the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-22. But the Knights fed off the crowd adn bounced back to take the third set, 25-23. Sacred Heart came back to take the fourth set and earn the match victory, 26-13.

Freshman Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) (Chatsworth, CA) led the Knights with 13 kills, while sophomore Sarah Willey (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) (Abingdon, MD) dished out 27 assists. Sophomore Kelsey Semler (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) (Allentown, PA) had a team-high 18 digs, while Willey added 14 and Wheeler recorded 10. Sophomore Sarah Berkland (Newton, MA/Newton North) (Newton, MA) had seven block assists, while Willey recorded five.

Brittany Best led Sacred Heart with 18 kills, while Ashlyn Trimble added 17. Courtney Kidd-Kadlubek fed a match-high 45 assists and Jessica Colberg had a team-high 23 digs.

The Knights are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 10 against Long Island at 1:00 p.m.