Box Score

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team could not navigate past Northeast Conference leader LIU Brooklyn as the Knights fell 3-0 Wednesday night at the Wellness Center. FDU's loss drops their record to 7-12 (3-3 NEC) as the Blackbirds move to 13-7 (6-0 NEC).

The Knights were outhit by the Blackbirds .259-.056 as they dropped sets by scores of 25-12, 26-24 and 25-15. After winning two matches in a row, the Knights have now lost two straight and fall to 1-7 in road matches this season.

LIU was dominant in the first set, taking a 10-point lead at 12-2. FDU crawled back into the set with a 7-2 run capped by two straight kills by redshirt junior Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica) to cut LIU's lead to 14-9. Slabakova finished with four kills on the night.

The rest of the first set went in the Blackbirds' favor as the home side captured 11 of the next 14 points for a 25-12 victory.

The second saw eight ties and two lead changes in what turned out to be the most competitive set of the match. Trailing 9-6, kills from senior Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) and freshman Maddie Gibbons (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview Heights) coupled with two LIU attack errors helped FDU to a 10-9 edge.  

After more seesaw action, the Blackbirds reached set point at 24-21. The Knights were able to tie up the match at 24-24 on two Jordon Collis (Frisco, TX/Frisco) kills and an LIU attack error. FDU's comeback was cut short, however, as the Blackbirds closed out the set with the final two points for a 26-24 win.

Moving into the third, LIU broke away with a 6-0 stretch to extend its 14-11 edge to 20-11. The Blackbirds closed out the Knights with a block to claim a 25-15 win for the sweep.

Wheeler paced FDU's offense with 11 kills and recorded a team-high seven digs. Freshman Allison Butler (Plano, Texas/Plano) chipped in with 21 assists.

LIU was led by Annika Foit's 15 kills to go with 31 assists from Vera Djuric and 11 digs courtesy of Adriana Vinas Joy.

The Knights will return home to Stratis Arena for NEC matches against Saint Francis PA on Saturday, Oct. 13, and Robert Morris on Sunday, Oct. 14. Both matches are set to begin at 1 p.m.