LORETTO, P.A. - The fourth seeded Knights traveled to Pennsylvania for the NEC Championship for the second straight season, this time to face the host school and number one seed Saint Francis. FDU would would lose in four sets in a match that saw the home side deliver 12 aces to just three for FDU.
1st Set:
SFU opened the match with a first set win using timely service aces to create separation. The Red Flash led 15-13 and then went on a quick three-point run to create a gap they wouldn't lose. Despite 11 service errors, SFU had four service aces in the set to none for FDU. Additionally, they outhit the visitors as the Knights hitting percentage was a negative.
2nd Set:
The set was tied at five, and the home side went on a 6-1 run to force and FDU timeout. After the timeout, SFU unleashed another ace before FDU would stop the run at 12-7.Two straight
Dylan McFadden kills cut the deficit to 5 at 19-14, but it was too much Red Flash. The teams would trade points the remainder of the set and SFU closed out the set 25-19. FDU hit .357 during the game, but SFU had zero attack errors and three more aces to their tally.
3rd Set:
A
Jamal Ellis Carballo block put the Knights ahead early in the set and the McFadden added one of his to give FDU a 5-2 advantage. The teams traded points until FDU was able to get a couple more featuring a
Mihajlo Rodic kill and then an emphatic Rodic solo block pushed the score to 11-7. SFU would be able to claw their way back and cut the deficit to one with another ace. FDU would bounce back with two straight to force the media timeout at 15-12.
Rayjan Suarez Palacios put the hammer down to stop the Red Flash run. The Red Flash though would tie it at 16 with another ace and then take the lead on an attack error. After calling timeout down 20-17, FDU rattled off three straight points led by a McFadden kill and then an
Artem Vetrov kill on an overpass. Ellis Carballo made a solo block to give FDU the lead back 22-21. But the game would need extra points and McFadden and Ellis Carballo would deliver to close out the set 26-24.
4th Set:
SFU jumped out to a 7-3 lead behind some quick tempo. But FDU would bounce back as Ellis Carballo and Vetrov hit two kills. Momentum shifted back to the home side who brought the lead back to five with an ace. The teams headed to the media timeout with SFU leading after a block 15-10. FDU's first ace of the set produced by Ellis Carballo as the ball hit the tape and landed cut the deficit to two forcing an SFU timeout. The Red Flash would extend the lead back to five with a kill on an over pass forcing FDU to use their final timeout at 22-17 and would close out the set 25-18.
This concluded several FDU student-athletes careers who were members of the program's first class.
Grady Hoffman wrapped up with 12 more digs to a history book making four-year run.
Artem Vetrov added eight kills to his tally while setter
Jose Angarita added 34 assists to wrap up his career.
