Box Score
Postgame with Assistant Coach Dan Rhodes

LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 2, 2012) – Snapping a six-game losing streak, the Saint Francis University men's volleyball team took down the Mount Olive Trojans Thursday night at DeGol Arena by a 3-1 score (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17).

In the opening set, the Red Flash (2-6) took the first point and did not vanquish the lead for the remainder of the set. SFU and Mount Olive (2-5) exchanged points back and forth towards the middle mark but the Flash had built up just enough of what they needed to jump ahead one set to none in the early goings of the match.

Despite registering just nine kills and hitting a team attack percentage of .200, Saint Francis hung with the Trojans in set number two and came just a few points shy of taking a commanding 2-0 lead. SFU jumped out to a 9-2 advantage early on before MOC began to string points together and cut the lead down one by one. A service ace by the Trojans Alex Rivero tied things up at 16 apiece. The Flash once again regained the lead and had a 22-20 advantage when Mount Olive recorded the next four points and five of the last six to take the set and tie the match at one.

After suffering its worst statistical set of the match, the Red Flash stormed back in the third set by hitting at an impressive .556 clip and sending 17 of 27 attacks down for successful kills. Although tightly contested until the very end, SFU earned the final three points by way of two Red Flash kills and a MOC attack error to put them up 2-1 heading into the fourth set.

Midway through set number four Saint Francis slowly but surely started a charge away from the Trojans, reaching an 8-1 run as they eyed up snapping their six-game skid. Mount Olive put up a few points here and there throughout the rest of the match but the Flash held their ground and took the set by eight points which then gave them the 3-1 match victory.

Sophomore Colin Sherwin (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) took advantage of a high amount of playing time in tonight's win, leading the team in kills with 12 on just five errors.  Not far behind Sherwin in the kills column was Kyle Beatty (Meadville, PA/Saegertown), racking up 11 which sets a new career-high for the 6-4 outside hitter. Adam Roche (Cochranton, Pa./Cochranton) picked up eight kills en-route to a .438 attack percentage but shined defensively as well with a career-best 13 total blocks (four solo, nine assisted). Senior setter Ryan Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) dished out 43 assists in the victory.

Saint Francis is back on the hardwood tomorrow night at DeGol Arena as they welcome in nearby Juniata College for a 7 p.m. matchup.