Box Score

LORETTO, Pa. (Oct. 26, 2011) – The Saint Francis University women's volleyball team dropped a tough 3-2 decision (25-13, 23-25, 25-13, 20-25, 14-16) to visiting Robert Morris Wednesday night at DeGol Arena during its Dig Pink match.

In the opening set, the Red Flash (7-18, 2-8) opened with an 11-6 lead before the Colonials (13-12, 8-2) called its first timeout of the match. Saint Francis looked strong in the early going against the third best team in the Northeast Conference, coming up with key dig saves and converting on the majority of their attacks. SFU earned a dominating win to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Set number two proved to be more tightly contested between the two squads with RMU taking an 11-8 lead before SFU took their first timeout of the match. Coming out of the timeout, the Flash earned four of the next six points. Robert Morris began to string a few points together as they looked to lock down a second set win, but Saint Francis battled its way to a 22-22 tie late. However, the Colonials earned three of the last four points scored to give them the second set victory and tie the match at one set apiece.

Saint Francis came out in the third set with the same intensity they had shown all match long and jumped out to an early 7-3 lead. From there, the Flash continued to pad its lead in the middle of the set holding a commanding 20-10 advantage. SFU picked up the five remaining points they needed to earn the third set win and take a 2-1 lead into the fourth set.

Fighting to stay alive in the match, the Colonials brought back the form they displayed in the second set and edged the Flash 11-9 before a Saint Francis timeout. With the help of some Colonial miscommunication and important strikes when they needed them, SFU earned a 15-14 lead halfway through the fourth set. It would be RMU though who would get the better of the set, taking the 25-20 win and forcing the match to a fifth set.

At the beginning of the final set, the two teams exchanged a point each back and forth, with the Flash earning its first lead of the set at 5-4. When the teams switched sides, the Colonials held an 8-6 advantage over Saint Francis. As the set neared its end, the Flash drew even with the Colonials at 14 all. Robert Morris picked up the final two points however to earn the set and match win.

Sophomore Breanna Kochinsky (Nicktown, Pa./Northern Cambria) shined on both sides of the ball as she picked up her fifth double-double of the season by notching a match-high 21 kills and 23 digs. Kochinsky's 21 kills is a new season-high for her and she comes just one dig shy of tying her season-best of 24.

Also recording double digit figures in kills are juniors Lauren Wingard (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) and Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula). Wingard registered 12 kills and added five blocks as well on the night, while Williams racked up 13 kills and a team-leading .455 attack percentage. Together, the setter combination of Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) and Logan Meinert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) dished out 63 assists, 35 for Kiser and 28 for Meinert. Starting libero Brittany Stambaugh (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) pieced together an 11-dig performance while freshman Madison Virgin (Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion) picked up a team-high six blocks.

When it was all said and done, the Red Flash dominated the stat sheet, accumulating 69 total kills to RMU's 45, 61 digs to the Colonials 50, 66 assists to Robert Morris' 42 and compiled a team attack percentage of .290 to the .182 mark set by the blue and red.

Saint Francis continues its three-game home stand this Saturday when St. Francis (N.Y.) visits Loretto for a 1 p.m. start time at DeGol Arena.