TEANECK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's volleyball team will host Rider University on Wednesday, Sept. 4 in its home opener.  The match is slated for 7 p.m. at Stratis Arena. 

The Knights will be looking for their first win after struggling in the season-opening La Salle Invitational.  The team went 0-4 with losses to La Salle, Lafayette, Bucknell and Sacramento State.

Offensively, the Knights are led by senior Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica). The veteran has recorded 30 kills on the year with a team-leading 35 points scored for FDU.  Sophomore Allison Butler (Plano, Texas/Plano) has facilitated the FDU offense with 80 assists on the season.

Defensively, sophomore Corey Lostetter (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) paces the Knights with 43 digs on the season.  Junior Deborah Hong (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) has also helped FDU with 39 digs through the first four games.  Sophomore Maddie Gibbons (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview Heights) and junior Hanifa Addi (Springdale, Md./Charles H. Flowers) have led the blocking effort for the Knights.

The Broncs are 2-1 on the season after competing at the Kathy Trosclair Memorial Tournament in New Orleans, La. last weekend.  Rider defeated Nicholls State and Mississippi Valley State and fell to the host, Tulane.

Rider is led by Bridget Sheerin and Kaitlyn Griffin who have recorded 25 and 24 kills, respectively.  Ashlee Amatulli has set up the offense with 50 assists through three matches, while Brandie Hill has recorded 41 assists. Defensively, Ryan Ackermann leads the Broncs with 29 digs.

The Knights and Broncs faced each other in Lawrenceville during the 2012 season where the Broncs took a 3-2 win.  The Knights defeated Rider on two occasions in 2011 with scores of 3-1 and 3-2.

Following the home match, the Knights will travel to the Lafayette Tournament where they will face Lehigh, Saint Peter's, Lafayette and Wright State on Sept. 6 and 7.