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HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team is set to begin the Northeast Conference portion of its schedule with home matches against Quinnipiac on Saturday, Sept. 22, and Central Connecticut State on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Stratis Arena. Both matches will get underway at 1 p.m.

The Knights (4-9) are looking to bounce back after a tough 3-1 loss to NJIT in their home opener on Wednesday. Against the Highlanders, senior Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) led the offense with 15 kills, and FDU received a boost from redshirt junior Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica), who had seven kills in her first match since the 2010 season finale. FDU could not overcome NJIT's balanced attack with four players with double-digit kills including two players with 13.

The Knights' first test of the weekend will be against Quinnipiac, a team that was picked to finish ninth out of nine teams in the NEC preseason coaches poll. The Bobcats are off to a 1-8 start and rank last in the NEC with a .029 team hitting percentage. Defensively, the team has allowed opponents to put together a .256 hitting percentage, which ranks eight in the NEC.

Quinnipiac began the season 0-6 with all six matches ending in 3-0 scores. The Bobcats were able to break through with a 3-2 win against Providence on Sept. 14. Since then, however, QU has fallen 3-1 to Fordham and 3-0 to Bucknell.  

Through nine matches, sophomore Tanner Celestin has paced the offense with 46 kills, while junior Logan Riker has recorded 90 digs on defense.

Two of FDU's 17 win from 2011 came against Quinnipiac. In a home match on Oct. 8, the Knights were 3-1 winners, and picked up a 3-0 win against the Bobcats on the road on Nov. 6.

On Sunday, the Knights will go head-to-head with Central Connecticut State, who will face St. Francis NY on Saturday. The Blue Devils boast a 5-8 record and are 4-6 in matches away from home in 2012.

CCSU enters the weekend riding a three-match losing streak with losses to Temple, Cornell and Navy at the Temple Invitational. The Blue Devils, picked third in the NEC preseason poll, currently ranks second in the conference with a team hitting percentage of .179.

Sunday's opponent brings a number of individual talents including Makenna Lommori, who was named NEC Defensive and Rookie of the Week on Sept. 17. She also won Rookie of the Week on Sept. 10. CCSU's Jamie Rademacher leads the NEC with a .324 hitting percentage, and Brittany Shumacher enters the weekend with an NEC-best 218 digs and 4.27 digs per set.

In 2011, FDU fell to CCSU by a 3-0 score on the road on Oct. 15 before dropping a 3-1 decision to the Blue Devils on Oct. 29 at Stratis Arena.

Live stats will be provided for both matches, and Saturday's match will be live streamed through NECfrontrow.com. 

After the opening weekend of NEC action, the Knights will return to Stratis Arena for a match against St. Francis NY on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m.