BROOKLYN, N.Y. - FDU (7-7, 0-1) fell in fours sets on the road against LIU (13-4, 1-0) on Friday to open Northeast Conference play.
Set 1:
FDU looked sharp to open the match and took advantage of miscues by the Sharks. Three kills and an ace by
Jamal Ellis Carballo set the tone for the visitors as LIU would have a negative hitting percentage on the set.
Set 2:
Unfortunately for the Knights, LIU would find their footing in set 2 as they jumped out to 5-1 lead, highlighted by a couple kills and an ace. Another five-point spurt opened up an 11-3 advantage for LIU. FDU would fight their way back though, drawing to within two at 13-11. The spark was generated by four attack errors by LIU but the teams exchanged points the rest of the way and LIU tied the match.
Set 3:
The third set began much the same way the second set did with a quick lead by LIU at 6-2. FDU would get within one point this time, as
Dylan McFadden crushed a couple of his 11 kills. But another LIU 6-1 run would open the set and FDU did not have a response.
Set 4:
The fourth set was a one-point game with LIU up, 11-10 before the gap widened as the Sharks went on a 6-1 run again, helped on by three FDU attack errors. But once again FDU clawed back, this time to take the lead at 19-18, with Ellis picking up two more of his 14 kills on the match. The momentum swung back to the home side with four straight kills and LIU would close out the match.
FDU returns to the Bogota Savings Bank Center for an afternoon rematch against the Sharks at 1 p.m.
