The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team snapped a six-game losing streak Sunday afternoon as they defeated NEC-foe Bryant, 3-2, in its final home match of the regular season at Stratis Arean in Hackensack. The Knights won the first two games by scores of 25-14 and 27-25 before the Bulldogs pulled out games three and four, 25-14 and 25-20. However, the Knights were able to stop the visitors' momentum and won the deciding game five, 15-10. With the victory, the Knights improve to 10-19 (5-8 NEC) on the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 17-16 (4-10 NEC) overall.
Before the start of the contest, three seniors were honored with a ceremony before they played their final home match on Senior Day. Amanda Alayon (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland), Sarah Berkland (Newton, MA/Newton North) (Newton, MA, Newton North) and Erin Roudebush (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) were all recognized for their achievements on the court over the past four years.
Berkland had a huge last home match. A day after establishing a new career high in kills, she recorded her first career double-double as she smashed 10 more kills and dominated the net with a career-best 11 block-assists on defense. She also posted a .286 attack percentage. Junior Meghan Alger (Cheltenham, MD/Bishop McNamara) (Cheltenham, MD/Bishop McNamara) also had a huge day at the net as she added a career-high nine block-assists and one solo block.
Sophomore Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) picked up her 15th double-double of the season as she led the team with 17 kills and 19 digs. She also led the Knights with a .366 attack percentage, three service aces and added four block-assists. Junior Kelsey Semler (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) added 16 digs.
Sophomore Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica) (Shelby Township, MI/Utica) and freshman Ashley Norton (Highlands Ranch, CO/Rock Canyon) (Highlands Ranch, CO/Rock Canyon) added 11 and nine kills, respectively, with the latter being a career high. Slabakova also had two service aces and five block-assists.
A day after establishing a new career high in assists with 58, junior Sarah Willey (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) dished out 40 more to give her a two-game total of 98.
As a team, the Knights established a season-high in block-assists with 32 and 17 total team blocks.
Fairleigh Dickinson returns to action on Wednesday, November 10, as they travel to Brooklyn to take on Long Island in a Northeast Conference match for the first of three-straight road matches to conclude the regular season. First-serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
