BOX SCORE DOVER, Del. (Sept. 15, 2012) - The Saint Francis women's volleyball team fell in five sets to La Salle at their final match of the Delaware State Tournament.

The Red Flash (4-9) lost 23-25, 28-26, 21-25, 25-21, 12-15 to the Explorers (3-10).

"LaSalle played at a high level as well and stepped up their game when they needed to.  We simply didn't play up to a level that we needed to at this point in the season," head coach Chuck Mullen said.

Both teams traded points in the first set, SFU eventually got out to a 12-7 lead. The Explorers closed the gap and tied the score at 16. Lauren Wingard (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) and Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) had back-to-back kills and both teams went back and forth until the set was at 23 apiece. La Salle slammed down to kills to take the set.

The second set was another close battle, SFU got out to an early lead again. The set would need extra points as it was tied at 25. After a clutch kill by Breanna Kochinsky (Nicktown, Pa./Northern Cambria), the Explorers made an error as SFU took the set 28-26.

In the third set, La Salle got out to an early 9-3 lead. Saint Francis responded after a timeout to tie the game up at 10 after several kills by Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula). The Red Flash then led 18-14, and this time is was La Salle that responded after a timeout. The Explorers scored 11 of the next 14 points to take the third set.

SFU faced an uphill battle in the fourth set as they trailed 9-5 early. Saint Francis took a 14-13 lead and they would not lose it again.

In the final frame, SFU faced a deficit, but they were able to trade points with the Explorers. After several lead changes La Salle came out on top.

Breanna Kochinsky (Nicktown, Pa./Northern Cambria) led all Saint Francis players with a strong double-double effort, she had 18 kills and 23 digs on the evening.
Chelsea Easter (Burlington, Ontario, Canada/Notre Dame Roman Catholic) chipped in with 15 kills, and Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula) finished with 15 kills and 10 digs.

Lauren Wingard (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) added 10 kills and Kayla Jeckell (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood) registered eight kills and three aces. Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) led SFU with 56 assists in the match, her highest total of the season.

"A new phase begins for us as we now shift our focus to conference play, it will not be easy, and it will be a challenge we welcome," Mullen stated.

Saint Francis will take some time off. They will return home to DeGol Arena on Sunday, Sept. 23 as they face Bryant in the first Northeast Conference matchup of the year.