HACKENSACK, N.J.- FDU won their second-consecutive NEC contest on Friday night against LIU. The four-set victory improved the Knights' record 5-15, 3-2.
Set One (25-22, FDU)
The Knights jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the opening frame, which forced LIU into an early timeout. Out of the break, the Sharks found their footing and were able to close the deficit to 10-8. The Knights responded quickly winning six of the next nine points to reestablish their five-point lead at 16-11. Despite multiple LIU spurts,
Tatijana Fucka put down a kill that won set one for FDU. 25-22.
Both teams made their fair share of attack errors in the first set, but FDU was slightly more efficient hitting at a .222 clip. Their defense held the Sharks to a .122 hitting percentage.
Set Two (25-18, FDU)
In the second set, it was LIU getting off on the attacking-foot with an 8-3 run to open the frame. Their five-point advantage held until a 5-0 Knight run knotted things at 11-11. With the score tied 14-14, FDU utilized yet another 5-0 run to take command of the set at 19-14. They went on to win it 25-18.
Contributing to their comeback, the FDU block established itself with 4 rejections in the set. Their offense operated more efficiently too, hitting .256 with 16 kills.
Set Three (25-18, LIU)
Set three was tight until a 6-0 LIU run created the separation they were looking for. This gave them a 21-15 and the closed out the set from there. 25-18.
The Sharks held the Knights to a .144 hitting percentage in the set. They rejected the FDU attack three times and forced them into seven attack errors.
Set Four (25-21, FDU)
Shaking off the third-set, the Knights came out strong in the fourth. They held leads of 11-5 and 18-11. A late LIU run did the cut the lead to two at 22-21, but two timely kills from T. Fucka gave the Knights some breathing room.
Avery Bain followed those kills up with one of her own to end the set and match. 25-21.
FDU (.213) smashed 19 kills in the decisive set.
What's Next
The Knights return to action next Friday, October 13
th, inside the Rothman Center against Stonehill. FDU swept the Skyhawks in both meetings with Stonehill in 2022. Fans can catch the action beginning at 5 p.m. on NEC Front Row.
