Box Score

LORETTO, Pa. (Oct. 30, 2011) – The Saint Francis University women's volleyball team gave first place Long Island a run for their money Sunday afternoon at DeGol Arena, taking them all the way to five sets, before dropping the match 3-2 (27-25, 15-25, 19-25, 25-22, 11-15).

In the opening set, the Red Flash (8-19, 3-9) needed a little extra time to put away the Blackbirds (11-1, 17-11). With the score tied at 25, SFU picked up the final two points of the set by way of an attack error on LIU and a double block by Lauren Wingard (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) and Madison Virgin (Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion).

Long Island took the next two sets and eyed up the match win in the fourth set. The Red Flash though jumped out 2-1 early on and did not forfeit the lead from that point on, despite LIU's late set comeback attempt. The Blackbirds scored 10 of the last 15 points but it would not be enough to earn them the win just yet.

In the fifth and final set, Saint Francis and Long Island battled back and forth to a 7-7 tie halfway through. It would be the Blackbirds though who strung together a few points from that point on and the Red Flash struggled to comeback.

Leading the way for Saint Francis offensively is junior Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula) whose 17 kills comes just one shy of tying her season-high for the season. Williams also posted three blocks on the afternoon and compilied a team-best .441 attack percentage.

Wingard also reached double digits in kills by tallying 12. Wingard along with Virgin led the team in blocks with four. 45 assists were dished out by the setter combination of Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) and Logan Meinert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) as Kiser registered 24 of those and Meinert recorded 21. Kiser's 24 assists added with her 10 digs produces her first double-double of the season. Brittany Stambaugh (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) and Leeanne Haus (Mars, Pa./North Allegheny) added 10 digs apiece as well.

Saint Francis hits the road one last time this season when they travel out east to face Central Connecticut State this Saturday and wrap up their trip by looking to sweep at Bryant on Sunday.