The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday at the Friars Classic at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. The Knights defeated NEC-foe, St. Francis (NY), 3-1, in their first match of the day before losing to Providence, 3-0, in the nightcap. The Knights are now 4-8 on the season.
In its match versus St. Francis (NY), Fairleigh Dickinson and the Terriers played four great games. The Knights won game one, 25-22, before dropping game two, 25-23. However, the Knights were able to take game three, 25-23, before clinching the match with a 25-20 game four victory.
As a team, the Knights delivered 53 kills. Sophomore Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) led the way with 14 kills. Senior Erin Roudebush (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) added 12, while sophomore Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica) contributed 10.
A trio of Knights was able to land two service aces as the team collected nine overall. Wheeler, junior Sarah Willey (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) and senior Sarah Berkland (Newton, MA/Newton North) led the squad from the service line. Willey also dished out 45 assists to help lead the offense.
Defensively, the Knights posted a season-high 81 digs. Junior Kelsey Semler (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) led four Knights in double-figures with 24. Senior Amanda Alayon (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) added 14 digs, while Willey and Wheeler had 12 and 11, respectively. This was the second time this season both Willey and Wheeler had a double-double in the same match. Also, Berkland led the Knights with six block-assists as the team had 14 overall.
In its second match of the day, the Knights were never really able to find a rhythm against the host school as Providence took care of business by scores of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-22.
Wheeler once again led the squad with 10 kills. Willey led the team with 26 assists, and Semler led three Knights in double-figures in digs with 14. Willey had 12 and Wheeler added 10 to give the duo its second double-double of the day.
Berkland led the Knights with two service aces and four block-assists.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Wheeler and Willey were named to the seven-member All-Tournament team.
Fairleigh Dickinson returns to action on Friday, September 18, as they travel across the Hudson River to participate in the Columbia Tournament in Manhattan. The Knights face Bucknell in their first match at 4:30 p.m. The team will then take on Fordham and Columbia on Saturday, September 18.
