HACKENSACK, N.J.- FDU traded blows with second-place LIU before eventually falling to the Sharks on in four sets. The loss drops the Knights' record to 5-16 (2-9).

In what was the first set the Knights had played at Stratis Arena in 40 days, LIU jumped on top early. A kill from Jamal Ellis Carballo drew the Sharks' lead down to one at 16-15, before LIU utilized a 9-3 run to take control of the first frame. The Sharks hit it at a clip of .429 in the set, which ended 25-18 in their favor.

It looked like it might be a stress-free night for LIU as they continued their surge into the second set. The Knights were forced into a timeout early, trailing 6-2. However, this timeout proved to win back some momentum for FDU and they were able to tie the match at 12 with a 10-6 run out of the break. The Sharks seemed poised to take a commanding 2-0 game lead, yet again, when they regained the lead at 20-17. This time Ellis Carballo found four kills late in the set to bring his team back. The Knights won the set 25-23 and evened the match at one. FDU had 16 kills in the set and backed up their offense with four blocks.

In the third, the Knights' struggled to rediscover the energy that helped them to a comeback win in the second. This set was all LIU, with FDU hitting in the negatives. LIU hit at .333 clip and won the set handedly 25-14.

The fourth set proved to be the most eventful and longest of the night. Two straight kills from Ellis Carballo evened things up at 15. Neither team could find separation as they went on to tie at scores of 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. The Knights seemingly won the set on an attack error by LIU that would have made the score 25-23 in favor of FDU. However, LIU challenged the play and the officials overturned the call which reverted the score to 24-24. With the score tied at 26, LIU recorded an ace and then took the following point to seal the set, 28-26, and the match 3-1. Both teams hit well into the positives in the concluding set. FDU hit .300, while LIU hit .294.

Jamal Ellis Carballo continued his dominant freshman campaign with a single-game program record of 30 kills. Ellis Carballo himself was the previous record-holder with 26.  Rui Fernandes served as a stat-sheet-stuffer with 36 assists, nine digs, four kills, one ace, and one block. Ethan Young recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs, as well as denying the Sharks twice with two blocks.

 

What's Next

 
The Knights will take on Saint Francis Brooklyn tomorrow night at 4pm inside the Rothman Center at Stratis Arena. FDU will try to avenge an early season four-set loss to the Bulldogs. Stream the match on NEC Front Row.