HACKENSACK, N.J.- At 6pm on February 10^th, another chapter of collegiate athletic history will be etched at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center.

On that night, FDU will host the inaugural NEC men's volleyball match against St. Francis U. It will be their first match since January 21^st. Since then, FDU has been preparing. Waiting and preparing.

"Being able to play against BYU gave us a glimpse of what we are capable of if we sharpen a few things up. After getting home, we have been able to refine some areas that we know we could execute better in," said sophomore Grady Hoffman.

That is what these last two weeks off have been about for the Knights. Head coach Karl France described it as a "second preseason". Perhaps, an even more beneficial one. The Knights sit at 3-2 and now have been cleaning up some things. France noted that his team's block and defensive cohesiveness have made strides since they last took the floor.

France also mentioned it has been a productive time for the student-athletes to focus on academics and get their bodies right.

Now, however, comes a new challenge for the second-year program. Competing for a championship within a conference. It is certainly a difference from the Knights' inaugural season when they competed as an independent. Luckily, the Knights return a number of players who have experienced the grind of a college schedule and are ready to raise the stakes.

"All these young men that were here last year understand that this is a different sector of the game. They know that they have to give their best shot because we are going to take everybody's best shot now," France added.

Hoffman, one of those returning players, is very much aware of the opportunity ahead of them.

"Our goals remain very similar to last year, which is to progress throughout the year and win as many games as we can. We are just focused on playing the best volleyball we can and enjoying what we yearned for, which is playing for an NEC Championship against some of the best programs in the area." Hoffman remarked.

The NEC consists of eight teams; Daemen, D'Youville, FDU, LIU, Merrimack, Saint Francis U (PA), St. Francis Brooklyn, Sacred Heart. FDU was slated sixth in the league's preseason poll. St. Francis U was picked as the favorite.

While acknowledging it will take a lot of hard work, France commented on how winning that first title would be a "boon" to the Knights. He hopes that they will get their relying on serving pressure and defense, which is the identity France wants to establish when they begin play in their new conference.

Although the Knights have been waiting to play a match since January 21^st, their wait to compete in a conference began at the inception of their program. A wait that will end for good next week in Hackensack.

"There's a lot of work that went on behind the scenes with all of administration to get to this point. So, I'm looking forward to that moment of starting things off." France reflected.

That moment comes on February 10^th when FDU takes on St. Francis U at Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center at 6pm. Stream the match on the NEC Front Row.