The top-seeded Red Flash men’s volleyball team defeated No. 2 FDU, 3-1, on April 25 at the Stokes Center to capture the program’s first-ever conference title.
SFU will play Loyola-Chicago in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Long Beach, California. Match time is 10 p.m. EST. It will be televised on ESPN+.
In their final year as a Division I program, the Red Flash brought home the championship trophy after finishing runner-up in the NEC for the last three years.
The Flash have advanced to the NEC’s title game in men’s volleyball every year since the league began sponsoring the sport in 2023. Before competing in the NEC, SFU men’s volleyball squad was a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
SFU opened the championship match against FDU strong, taking the first set, 25-17. The Flash had runs of 4-1 and 7-1 in the opening frame.
FDU bounced back in the second set, however, with several service aces and rally wins to post a 25-20 victory.
The third set was tight throughout and many of those in attendance sensed that whoever came away with the set three win would walk away with the league title. A Nathan Zini kill closed the set and gave the Flash a 25-23 win a 2-1 lead.
SFU took charge of the fourth set midway through the frame, going on a 4-0 run to win, 25-20. A service error by the Knights to close the match sent the Stokes Center crowd into a joyful frenzy.
“When we finally took a three-point lead (in the fourth set), I was like, all right, we got this now,” said SFU head coach Mike Rumbaugh.
Prior to the start of last weekend’s NEC Tournament, Rumbaugh was named the league’s Coach-of-the-Year for a fourth straight season.
The Flash defeated LIU, 3-0, in the NEC semifinals to set up the championship match-up with FDU, who had knocked off Maryland Eastern Shore in the other semifinal match.
“It is a relief, but I felt like we had it coming,” said Rumbaugh, who is in his 28th season as head coach of the program. “I could feel it (a championship) this season – it’s a relief to finally have it happen.”
SFU senior outside hitter Brady Stump was named the NEC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player following the championship match. Stump recorded 13 kills, three digs and an ace against the Knights.
Sophomore Kyle Charles and graduate student Richard Kaminski were also named to the NEC All-Tournament team. Charles had 42 assists against FDU in the title match.
Stump and Charles were also first-team All-NEC performers, along with SFU senior outside hitter Cole Dorn.
The Flash (18-11) enter the NCAA Tournament on a six-match winning streak. Loyola-Chicago received an at-large bid to the tournament after finishing runner-up in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
