Howard Box Score
Marist Box Score

Pittsburgh, Pa. (Aug. 27, 2011) – The Saint Francis University women's volleyball team wrapped up its stay at the Duquesne Tournament Saturday, gaining its first win of the season 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-22) against Howard but falling to Marist 1-3 (22-25, 25-19, 16-25, 20-25) later in the afternoon.

The opening match with Howard (0-4) seemed to be the story of three completely different sets. Saint Francis (1-3) regrouped from a pair of losses the previous night and dominated the first set. Right out of the gate, the Red Flash competed with a high level of energy and confidence and minimized the errors that did them in the night before.

“This was a complete effort today and we kept errors to a minimum without losing our aggressiveness,” head coach Chuck Mullen said. “I'm proud of the way they were able to rebound from yesterday. I hope we can continue with this level of play this afternoon.”

Shortly after the second set began, it appeared that roles would reverse and Howard would dominate as SFU fell far behind early. However, the Red Flash regained the form they showed in the first set and grabbed its first lead of the set at 16-15 and never trailed again in the set from that point on. The final set produced a back and forth struggle between the two clubs as neither one could sustain a lead and pull ahead.

Junior middle hitter Lauren Wingard (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) reached double digits in kills for the first time this season and compiled an impressive .588 hitting percentage for the match. Classmate Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) posted 31 assists, while sophomore libero Brittany Stambaugh (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) recorded 10 digs and freshman Alanna Blenkarn (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Pickering) picked up three service aces.

Saint Francis continued its strong play into the second match against Marist (1-2) even though they came up short of a victory.

“Although I'm disappointed in the result, this was probably our most competitive match of the tournament,” Mullen said. “It was a fairly even match with a lot of intensity but it just came down to unforced errors at bad moments.”

Perhaps the most impressive set played thus far by the Red Flash was the second set against Marist. SFU got off to a slower than usual start, being down 8-0 before Mullen called a timeout to get his team a break and a chance to refocus. That seemed to do the trick as Saint Francis rolled from then on and with the score 15-14, they took their first lead of second set and continued the aggressive style of play through the remainder of the match.

In total from the match with the Red Foxes, the team posted 60 kills, but it was their defense that really gave them a chance to pick up a win as they recorded 73 digs in all. Sophomore transfer Breanna Kochinsky (Nicktown, Pa./Northern Cambria) and freshman Kayla Jeckell (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood) both registered their first double-double efforts as members of the Saint Francis women's volleyball squad. Kochinsky put up 12 kills and 20 digs, while Jeckell finished with 11 kills, 12 digs. Sophomore setter Logan Meinert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) posted an impressive 49 assists during the match as well.

For her efforts this weekend, Wingard was selected to the All-Tournament team. In four matches, she played all 13 sets and registered 43 kills, a .407 hitting percentage, four service aces, four blocks (three solo, one assited) and 12 digs. 

Saint Francis returns to action Sept. 2 when they head to the Akron Tournament to face host Akron at noon and Canisius later in the evening at 5 p.m.