BOX SCORE LORETTO, Pa. (Sept. 4, 2012) – The Saint Francis University women's volleyball team lost the home opener against Duquesne University in three sets 19-25, 18-25, 17-25.
 
The Red Flash (3-4) kept pace with the Dukes (8-1) in the first set as they got out to a quick 8-6 lead. Both teams traded points until Duquesne went on an 8-0 run, SFU was not able to recover.
 
In the second set, Saint Francis was playing from behind, as they had to face a 9-3 deficit. The Dukes led the entire second set, but the Red Flash would not surrender and they kept it close.
 
The third set was similar to the second, but SFU did have an early lead. Duquesne pulled away towards the end taking the third set 25-17.
 
Senior middle blocker Elizabeth Williams (North Bend, Ohio/Saint Ursula) led the offensive attack for Saint Francis, she recorded a team-high eight kills. Senior middle hitter Lauren Wingard (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) chipped in with six kills and three digs.
 
The current Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week, Hannah Kutny (Clifton Park, N.Y./Catholic Central) registered four kills for the Red and White to go along with one dig.
 
Junior libero Brittany Stambaugh (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) led SFU with 11 digs, and sophomore opposite Alanna Blenkarn (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/Pickering) paced the Red Flash with 24 assists.
 
Saint Francis will travel to Kent State for the Invitational this weekend. They will open the tournament Friday (Sept. 7) against Liberty at 1 p.m.
 
SFU will then play Marshall at 7 p.m., and on Saturday morning they will play Kent State at 10:30 a.m.