Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. (Oct. 23, 2011) – The Saint Francis University women's volleyball team took Fairleigh Dickinson to five sets Sunday afternoon but struggled to find themselves on the winning side as they dropped the match 3-2 (21-25, 25-14, 26-24, 27-29, 10-15).

In the opening set, the Knights (15-8, 5-4) took the first point and did not let the Red Flash (7-17, 2-7) gain a lead of any kind throughout the remainder of the set. SFU made things interesting as the first set neared its end by collecting five of six points to make it 19-18 FDU. However, the Knights then put down six of the final nine points in the set to put themselves up 1-0 in the match.

Saint Francis roared back in the second set and jumped out to an early 10-6 lead before an FDU timeout. The Flash continued its strong play coming out of the timeout, pushing their lead to 19-10 and continuing to rack up points on their way to an 11-point second set win, tying the match at 1-1. Statistically, set number two was the strongest for SFU as they notched 20 total kills and compiled a team .459 attack percentage.

A tightly contested third set was forced to go a little longer than usual. The Red Flash and Knights battled their way to a 24-24 tie late in set number three but Saint Francis picked up the final two points by way of an error on FDU and an Amanda Zahumensky (Sarver, Pa./Freeport Area) kill to put them ahead two sets to one in the match.

Just like the previous set, the fourth set needed some extra time to determine a winner. Even play once again was seen from the two teams until SFU began to string some points together to build up a 20-16 point lead. FDU then registered five of the next six points scored to pull even with the Flash at 21. As the set neared its end, Saint Francis held a 27-26 advantage and needed just one more point to close out the set and the match. The Knights however, recorded three points in a row to draw even in the match and force it into a fifth set.

To start the fifth and final set, the Knights pulled out to a commanding 6-2 lead before head coach Chuck Mullen called a timeout to refocus his squad. The Flash managed to bring the score to a 10-10 tie but that would be as close as they would get, as FDU scored five points in a row giving them the 15-10 set win and the 3-2 match win.

Sophomore Breanna Kochinsky (Nicktown, Pa./Northern Cambria) picked up her fourth double-double of the season today by notching a team-best and season-high 17 kills and adding 17 digs to her efforts as well. With her double digit mark in digs, that gives Kochinsky six consecutive matches in double figures. Juniors Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula) and Zahumensky tallied double digits in kills also as Williams registered 13 kills and Zahumensky recorded 10. Williams also put down four service aces.

Adding double digit figures in digs along with Kochinsky are Leanne Haus with 11 and libero Brittany Stambaugh (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) with a team-high 18. Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) and Logan Meinert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) split time at setter today as Kiser put up 29 assists to Meinert's 18.

Saint Francis returns home after a three-match road trip to face in-state and conference rival Robert Morris this Wednesday night at DeGol Arena beginning at 7 p.m. The contest with the Colonials will be the team's Dig Pink match, which supports breast cancer research and awareness.