HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson volleyball team is set to begin Northeast Conference play on Friday evening when they travel Fairfield, Connecticut to take on Sacred Heart at 6:00 p.m.
 
The Knights (3-11) are searching for their first win over the Pioneers (6-7) since 2012. The all-time series is knotted at 16-16 but the Pioneers have won the last nine meetings between the squads.
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Last time out, Fairleigh Dickinson freshman setter McKenna Setterlund racked up a double-double with 31 assists and 16 digs. It was Setterlund's fourth straight double-double and her seventh of the season. The Knights' setter ranks third in the NEC in at 8.06 assists per set, while her counterpart on Friday, Sacred Heart's Kiki Robinson, is the conference leader at 9.70 a/set.
 
NEC SEASON
The Knights will look to continue their development this season with the start of NEC action. The team has already matched its win total from a season ago as it begins the 14-match NEC slate. In non-conference play, the Pioneers posted the fourth best record, while Central Connecticut leads all NEC teams at 7-4. At 9-7 Bryant tallied the most victories of any NEC school in non-conference tilts.
 
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
The Pioneers have won their last two matches entering Friday's matchup with the Knights. The team claimed a pair of victories last Saturday at their Hampton Inn Shelton Invitational by defeating Hartford (3-1) and Brown (3-0). In the first day of the Invitational, the Pioneers were bested 3-1 by Lehigh, which capped a three-game skid. With the aforementioned Robinson leading the team, the Pioneers' offensive attack is paced by redshirt sophomore Liisel Nelis, who has racked up 188 kills (3.42 k/set) and redshirt junior Makayla Dole, who has 183 kills (3.33 k/set) on the season.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE KNIGHTS
The Knights return to action next Friday, September 29 when they take on Saint Francis U in Loretto, Pennsylvania at 7:00 p.m.