The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team will look to move up in the Northeast Conference standings with a 1 p.m. showdown against Quinnipiac on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Stratis Arena in Hackensack, NJ.
The Knights (11-6, 1-2 NEC) are riding a two-match win streak with 3-0 wins over Saint Francis PA and Saint Peter's and currently in sixth place in the NEC. Quinnipiac (2-15, 1-3 NEC) has struggled through a pair of extended losing streaks this season but earned its first NEC win on Saturday, Oct. 1, over St. Francis NY.
FDU put on a dominating performance in the team's last match, a 3-0 win over Saint Peter's on Wednesday. The Knights had a .330 hitting percentage and racked up 44 kills on the night. Junior
Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep), who began the week tied for ninth in the nation with 4.70 kills per set, smashed a match-high 21 kills to see her average improve to 4.81.
Sarah Willey (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) propelled the offense with 35 assists and Kelsey Selmer, the NEC's leader in digs per set, added 12 digs on defense.
The Bobcats started their 2011 campaign with a six-match losing streak before breaking through with a Sept. 9 win over La Salle at the Quinnipiac/Hartford Tournament. After an eight-match losing streak following the win, Quinnipiac beat St. Francis NY, 3-2.
Last time out, the Bobcats suffered a 3-0 loss at the hands of Long Island. Oliva Grattan and Kelby Carey had six kills each to lead the offense, and Kayla Lawler dished out 20 assists in the defeat. Lawler ranks first in the NEC with 0.49 aces per set and sixth in assists per sets with 7.24.
Last season, the two teams split their matches, with both teams winning by a 3-2 margin at home. In the Knights' Oct. 3, 2010 win, Wheeler, Willey and Semler each recorded double-digit digs.
The Knights have won both of their home matches this season, while the Bobcats are 0-10 away from Burt Kahn Court.
FDU will play against St. Francis NY for another home match at Stratis Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.
