BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Artem Vetrov tabbed his first career double-double on Saturday afternoon as FDU men's volleyball ventured to LIU, dropping the match in five sets. After coming out to a 2-0 start, the Knights dominated in the third and fourth sets to ultimately fall 15-13 in the final game.
With 14 kills, 10 digs, two service aces and a block, Vetrov led the Knights with 16.5 points to post his first career double-double. Lorenzo Bonomo followed with 15.5 points, recording 13 kills on a .370 clip.
Rui Fernandes anchored the Knights with a career-high 43 assists, also logging two kills, two service aces and a pair of blocks.
Other big contributions came from Santiago La Jara who logged nine kills, an ace and three blocks, depositing three kills on a perfect clip in the first set alone.
How it Happened
Set One
-The Knights put away a pair of kills to open set one with a two-point edge.
-LIU took control with a series of uninterrupted service aces which the Knights would answer with a pair of kills and a block to knot the score at 12.
-Set one remained a tight battle as Vetrov deposited back-to-back service aces to keep the score leveled to the end.
-A final kill by LIU's Caden Satterfield sealed the set in favor of the Sharks, 25-23.
Set Two
-LIU jumped out with a 6-2 advantage as Bonomo opened scoring for the Knights with a pair of kills.
-The Knights cut into the deficit with a quick 4-1 spurt capped with a service ace by Jack Lydon.
-A pair of service aces by LIU created distance that they would maintain to close the set 25-17.
Set Three
-The Knights established momentum early in the third set with a 9-4 advantage to force an LIU timeout.
-FDU maintained the edge, forcing a seven-point lead midway through the set.
-The Knights took the set 25-22 as Bonomo dominated with five kills and a service ace to lead the team.
Set Four
-Maintaining their momentum from set three, the Knights came out on a 6-3 run capped by a solo block by Bonomo.
-A service ace by La Jara extended FDU's lead to five midway through the set.
-The Knights maintained the lead as Rui Fernandes deposited a final service ace to take the set 25-22.
Set Five
-The final set was a tight battle as FDU drained a series of five kills early on.
-As both teams recorded their highest hitting average of the match, the Sharks managed a final service ace to defeat the Knights in overtime.
Next Up
The Knights will close their inaugural season on April 22 and 23 as they travel to Charlotte, N.C. for the Independent Volleyball Association tournament hosted by Queens.
