BOX SCORE LORETTO, Pa. (Sept. 23, 2012) – The Saint Francis University women's volleyball team took down Bryant in five sets in the Northeast Conference opener on Sunday (25-27, 23-25, 28-26, 25-23, 16-14).
 
The Red Flash improved to 5-9 overall and move to 1-0 in conference play. The Bulldogs fell to 5-13 and 0-1 in the NEC.

The first set was close the entire way with neither team taking control early. SFU did have a late 20-19 lead, but they were not able to close it out. Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula) and Kayla Jeckell (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood) had clutch kills to score the 24th and 25th points. The set needed extra points and Bryant took the first set.
 
The second set was again close. Saint Francis was not able to gain much momentum, but they kept it close the entire frame.
 
In the third set, the momentum shifted to SFU. Amanda Zahumensky (Sarver, Pa./Freeport Area) led the attack with five kills in the set. The Red Flash were down 17-11 and managed a run to eventually take the set in extra time 28-26.
 
The fourth set again provided drama as both teams traded points throughout. Kayla Jeckell (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood) had a service ace to stretch the lead to 24-21. Saint Francis was able to take the set 25-23. Hannah Kutny (Clifton Park, N.Y./Catholic Central) had a team-high six kills in the fourth set.
 
SFU loves the fifth set drama, and today was no different. They started out slow, but after a timeout managed to a small run. Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula) slammed down the final kill to take the fifth set 16-14.
 
Kayla Jeckell (Mountaintop, Pa./Crestwood) led the way with 17 kills and 11 digs, Amanda Zahumensky (Sarver, Pa./Freeport Area) and Lauren Wingard (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) each had 14 kills apiece. Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula) registered 13 kills of her own to go along with 3 service aces.
 
Brittany Stambaugh (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) had 18 digs for SFU, while Breanna Kochinsky (Nicktown, Pa./Northern Cambria) chipped in with 15 digs. Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) had a Saint Francis Record 67 assists in the match for the Red Flash.

"Kierstin did everything I expect a senior setter to do, she did a great job of spreading the ball to all of our hitters. Kiersten knows what we want to do on offense and she did a great job executing the gameplan tonight," head coach Chuck Mullen said of Kiser.
 
Saint Francis will be back in action this upcoming weekend versus Quinnipiac and Central Connecticut State.
 
FLASH FACTS
 
-Saint Francis currently ranks 3rd in the nation in Aces per set
 
-Kierstin Kiser (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) had a Saint Francis University record 67 assists in the match