HACKENSACK, N.J.- FDU men's volleyball (0-1) opened their 2026 season against Missouri S&T (2-1). The visiting Miners won in four sets over the Knights. Three Knights eclipsed fourteen points in the contest.
After dropping 8-4 early, the Knights mounted a 4-0 run spearheaded by Jamal Ellis and Dylan McFadden, to even out the score 8-8.
With the score tied at 22 all, the teams exchanged points, until the Miners capitalized on FDU errors to end the set 29-27.
The back and forth play continued in the second set, with the Knights displaying three rallies to keep the set close. Trailing 25-24, FDU reaped the benefits of a Miner's service error, and back-to-back kills by Vinil Shah and Rayjan Suarez Palacios to close the set 27-25.
An early kill by Suarez Palacios gave FDU a 5-4 advantage, in a set which saw the score equalized 14 times. A late rally by the Knights was not enough, as the Miners took the third set by a final score of 25-22.
The Knights capitalized on early errors to tie the score at 7-7, before Dylan McFadden put the Knights ahead with a helper from Brandon Pho. The Knights would not retake the lead as they fell 25-21.
Dylan McFadden: Game best 18 points, 2 aces, hit .414
Jamal Ellis: 14.5 points and a blocking assist
Rayjan Suarez Palacios: Career high 14 points, 1 solo block, 5 total blocks
The Knights travel to Roberts Wesleyan for a 6:30 p.m. contest on Jan. 19. Coverage of the game will be on FLO College.
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