Box Score

LORETTO, Pa. (Feb. 24, 2012) - In thrilling fashion, the Saint Francis University men's volleyball team outlasted George Mason Friday night at DeGol Arena in five sets (25-19, 22-25, 24-26, 25-22, 18-16) to earn their fourth Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association win of the season.

In the opening set, the Red Flash (7-7, 4-1 EIVA) were down for the majority of play to the Patriots (4-9, 1-2 EIVA). Behind Alex Kane (York, Pa./West York)'s nine kills alone in the first set, SFU rallied from a 14-10 deficit to tie the score at 17. Saint Francis allowed George Mason just two more points in the set and took advantage of an attack error by the Patriots on the last play to seal the 25-19 opening set win.

Playing from behind once again in set number two, the Flash drew even with George Mason at 14-14 after being down by as many as five early on. SFU took the lead on the next point and followed that up with a solid kill by Logan Patterson (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) before the Patriots called a timeout. The remainder of the set stayed tightly contested from there on out until GMU put down the final kill to give Mason the three point set win and even the match at one.

Contrary to how the previous two sets started, Saint Francis got off to a flying start in the third, gaining a 9-5 advantage before a GMU timeout. SFU kept that intensity and high level of play going as they then built up a 17-10 lead halfway through the set. Mason made a run at the Flash though and went on a 6-1 run to pull them to within two points at 19-17. An unforced error on Saint Francis tied the set at 20. After falling behind two, the Red Flash came roaring back with three consecutive kills from three different players to put themselves back on top. GMU was not done though, the Patriots pulled a comeback of their own to tie the score at 24. Unfortunately for SFU a slip on the court handed Mason the third set win and put them up two sets to one.

Set number four proved to be as back and forth as any in the match. Saint Francis gained the biggest lead of the set to that point at 12-10, but GMU quickly brought the score back to a deadlock. As the fourth set neared its end, SFU put up a small 19-17 lead before a Mason timeout. With the score set at 22 all, a kill from Kane, a double block by Kane and Mark Kochan and an error on GMU propelled the Flash to the set win and sent the match into a fifth and final set.

Neither team let up in the set number five as the score was set at 8-7 Mason when the two squads switched sides of the court. After battling point for point the set and match came down to a 14-13 lead for the Patriots. A kill from Kyle Beatty (Meadville, PA/Saegertown) brought the Flash back into it at 14 apiece. With SFU up 17-16, a service ace from Kochan lifted the Flash past the Patriots in a thrilling fifth set.

Kane shattered his previous career-best of 18 kills with a match-high 35 kills and a .466 attack percentage. In addition to setting a career-high mark in kills, the York, Pa. native recorded his first career double-double with another career-best in 14 digs. Senior setter Ryan Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) came four assists shy from tying his career-high mark in assists as he dished out 63. Adam Roche (Cochranton, Pa./Cochranton) led the Flash with five blocking assists in the win.

Saint Francis returns to the court tomorrow night at 7 p.m. as they welcome in Princeton for an EIVA contest at DeGol Arena.