ST. JOHN'S    BRYANT
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HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team will continue the nonconference portion of its schedule this weekend with the Kaiser Classic at the Carnesecca Arena in Queens, N.Y. The Knights' schedule includes a date with the host St. John's on Friday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. and Saturday matches versus Idaho State at 11 a.m. and Bryant at 5 p.m.

For the Knights (3-6), it is a chance to get back on the right track after suffering two five-set losses in a row. In three wins, FDU has put together a .230 hitting percentage while holding opponents to a .149 clip. In their six losses, however, the Knights are hitting .120 and opponents have a .225 hitting percentage.

Head Coach Stacey Recanati has seen solid play by senior Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep), who broke FDU's career kills record last weekend and leads the Northeast Conference with 177 kills on the season.

FDU's first task will be to get by St. John's (7-1), which has won six matches in a row entering the weekend event. For the Red Storm, it will be their second home match of the season after beating Siena by a 3-0 score on Aug. 29.

St. John's outside hitter Karin Palgutova is the reigning Big East Freshman of the Week. She put together 47 kills and a .562 hitting percentage as the Red Storm went 4-0 last week. Sophomore Aleksandra Wachowicz carries the offensive burden with 95 kills, and Sabina Piegza has recorded a team-high 245 assists.

The Knights will kick off Saturday against Idaho State (3-3) at 11 a.m. at Taffner Field House.  The Bengals were selected to finish seventh in the Big Sky in the preseason coaches poll.

Idaho State comes in riding a two-match winning streak with a 3-1 victory over UNLV and a 3-0 shutout of Tennessee State at the Nike Portland Invitational. Senior outside hitter Breanne Van Every (46 kills in three matches) and junior setter Lori Mendenhall (124 assists) were named to the invitational's All-Tournament team.

Van Every leads the team with 80 kills and Tressa Lyman is right behind with 68 kills. Whitney Bartschi leads the Bengals' effort at the net with four solo blocks and 14 block assists.

In the finale, FDU will play NEC foe Bryant (3-4) at 5 p.m. in a match that will not count toward conference standings.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, which is two spots ahead of FDU. Bryant started the season 1-3, but has since beaten Chicago State and North Carolina A&T before falling to Coppin State at the Coppin State Tournament.

FDU beat Bryant, 3-1, during the regular season in Smithfield, R.I., but dropped a 3-2 decision to the Bulldogs in the season finale in Hackensack, N.J.

Bryant has three players with at least 50 kills, led by freshman Claire Van Dyk with 83.

The Knights and Bulldogs will go head-to-head twice more this season. The first meeting will be Oct. 7 in Smithfield, R.I. at 1 p.m. and the second will be Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. at home at Stratis Arena in Hackensack, N.J.

Following the weekend action, the Knights will have a week and a half to prepare for their home opener against NJIT on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.