The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team will kick off its 2011 campaign with two matches in Worcester, MA on Friday, Aug. 26, and one more the following day in Boston, MA as part of the Beanpot Classic. The Knights' Friday schedule includes matchups with Holy Cross at Noon and Northeastern at 6 p.m. before taking on NEC foe Central Connecticut State Saturday at 10 a.m. in a non-conference tilt.
Featuring nine returning letter winners, Head Coach Stacey Recanati's Knights checked in at sixth in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll. FDU went 11-21 a season ago, with seven of those wins coming away from Stratis Arena.
The Knights' match against Holy Cross will be a home contest for the Crusaders who were 8-7 on their home court and 12-21 overall in 2010. The Crusaders, picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League this year, went 4-1 against NEC opponents last season.
Friday's nightcap will mark the first game of the season for Northeastern. The Huskies, out of the Colonial Athletic Association, won five of their last seven matches in 2010 and made it to their league's championship game before falling to Delaware in five games. Picked to finish third in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll this season, Northeastern's 2010 record was 19-11.
On Saturday, the Knights will square off against NEC opponent Central Connecticut State for the first of three meetings this season. The Knights and Blue Devils split their season series in 2010 with both teams winning on each others' home courts. Saturday's game will not count toward either team's conference record.
