HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson volleyball team begins an eight-match homestand this weekend when they square off against Bryant on Friday (5 p.m.) and Central Connecticut State (4 p.m.) on Saturday at the Rothman Center.
 

THE KNIGHTS
The Knights are looking to end a nine-match skid when they return to the court this weekend. The team has played the last four matches without two key freshman Magdalena Maksimovic and Nataliya Rybakova but other players have stepped up in their absence, including senior Taylor Wyckoff, who has recorded at least nine kills in each of those matches. After playing 13 of their first 15 matches on the road, the Knights are set to play all eight of their October matches inside of the Rothman Center.
 
WYCKOFF'S WORLD
As one of two seniors on this year's squad, Wyckoff has assumed a lead role and has been surging as of late. The senior has registered double-digit kills in three of her last five outings, while also amassing double-digit digs three times.
 
ROGERS DIGS IT
Freshman defensive specialist Jamie Rogers has been a key contributor this season for the Knights, ranking fourth in sets played. Rogers has tallied double-digit digs four times this season and in the team's last match against Sacred Heart, the freshman set a new season-high with 18 digs.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Bryant (12-8, 3-0 NEC) enters this weekend as the top team in the NEC with wins over St. Francis Brooklyn, LIU Brooklyn and Central Connecticut State. The Bulldogs were last in action September 29 with a four-set win over Central Connecticut (25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 25-23). Offensively, the team is led by Julia Flynn, who is averaging 3.42 kills per set in NEC play and leads the team with 3.03 kills per set on the season. Senior Ally Lunsford has recorded a team-best .311 hitting percentage to go along with 2.37 k/set average. Defensively, freshman Erika Ward has recorded a team-best 4.10 digs per set on the year and junior Grace Richmeyer is averaging an NEC-best 1.75 blocks per set in conference matches.
 
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
The Blue Devils (8-6, 1-2 NEC) are coming off a loss at Bryant but topped St. Francis Brooklyn 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 26-28, 25-16) prior to that match. Rachel Quirarte, Madelyn Kaprelyan, Samantha McCreath and Morgan Woycik are all averaging over two kills per set this season, while Quirarte leads the way with 2.70. The Blue Devils feature two setters in sophomore Erin McDermott and junior Kaitlyn Kushman. Kushman is doling out 5.15 assists per set, while McDermott sits at 5.13 per set. Last season, the Blue Devils qualified for the NEC Tournament before being ousted by Sacred Heart in the opening round.

UP NEXT
The Knights continue their home stretch with a pair of matches next weekend against St. Francis Brooklyn at on Friday, October 13 and LIU Brooklyn on Saturday, October 14.