Live Stats vs. Canisius / Live Stats vs. Rider
Live Stats vs. Bucknell / Live Video vs. Bucknell

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team will travel to Lewisburg, Pa. this weekend to play in the Bucknell Invitational, which starts on Friday when the Knights take on Canisius at 5:30 p.m. before playing the host Bison at 7:30 p.m. The tournament concludes on Saturday for FDU at 3 p.m. with a rematch against Rider, who beat the Knights, 3-0, in Hackensack on Sept. 4.

Last Time Out
The Knights took part in the Lafayette College Tournament last weekend, where they went 0-4. In the first match of the tournament, FDU was defeated by Lehigh on its home court, 3-0. Senior Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica) led the team with 11 kills and added 10 digs. Junior Deborah Hong (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) led the Knights with 13 digs, and sophomore Allison Butler (Plano, Texas/Plano) led the team in assists with 24. 

The second match of the tournament was against Saint Peter's, where FDU won their first set of the season in a 3-1 defeat. Butler had a season-high 38 assists, along with 10 digs. Slabakova led the team in kills with 16, while freshman Courtney Kovensky (Highland, Calif./Citrus Valley) added 10 of her own. 

The next day, the Knights took on Lafayette on their home court, losing 3-0. Three FDU players reached double-digit digs; Hong (17), Slabakova (13), and senior Taylor Roland-Buohl (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) (10). Butler again led the team with 19 assists. 

In the last match, the Knights faced Wright State and lost 3-1, but won a set for the second time this season.  Freshman Caroline Laton (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) led the team with 10 kills, while Deborah Hong (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) led the way with 20 digs. 

Canisius
2013 Season: 0-8
When: Friday, September 13 – 5:30 p.m.
Where: Lewisburg, Pa. (Davis Gym)
Recent Series History:  FDU leads 2-0 (since 2005)
Last Meeting:  August 28, 2009 – FDU 3 Canisius 1
What You Need To Know: Senior Emily Elek leads the team in kills with 64. Senior Sydney Palka has 132 assists, most on the team.  With two winless teams matching up, someone is going to get their first victory of the season Friday evening. 

Bucknell
2013 Season: 4-2
When: Friday, September 13 – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lewisburg, Pa. (Davis Gym)
Recent Series History:  FDU leads 2-1 (since 2005)
Last Meeting:  August 31, 2013 – Bucknell 3 FDU 0
What You Need To Know: The Bison beat the Knights handily in a meeting at the La Salle Invitational earlier this season, although the second and third sets were hotly contested. Bucknell is off to its best start since 2005, led by a balanced attack. Freshman Erika Eastley leads the Bison with 52 kills, although six players have more than 20 kills. 

Rider
2013 Season: 7-1
When: Saturday, September 14 – 3 p.m.
Where: Lewisburg, Pa. (Davis Gym)
Recent Series History: FDU leads 4-2 (since 2005)
Last Meeting:  September 14, 2013 – Rider 3 FDU 0
What You Need To Know: The Broncs are a well-rounded team with a number of solid contributors.  The Rider attack is led by Senior Bridget Sheerin, who leads the team with 66 kills and an impressive .452 hitting percentage.  Five players have at least 36 kills for the Broncs.  Junior Ashlee Amatrulli has 144 assists, followed by Brandie Hill with 85. 

Up Next
The Knights return home for a three-match stretch, first with NJIT on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in Stratis Arena.