LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's volleyball opens its season tonight against Ball State, and the Red Flash have a challenge waiting for them right out of the gates in this matchup with the Cardinals.
 
Ball State (1-1) earned a sweep of the Sacred Heart Pioneers at home, with sophomore Marcin Niemczewski collecting a career-high 15 kills and three service aces. Middle blockers Matt Leske and Kevin Owens are off to a great start. Leske has a 1.17 blocks per set average while Owens has a 1.00 blocks per set average. The Cardinals' lone loss on the season came to UC Irvine, the top ranked team in the country.
 
"Ball State is very similar to us," head coach Mike Rumbaugh said. "They have two really big middles and a very good setter who can get them the ball."
 
Saint Francis returns a veteran group with eight seniors, led by Logan Patterson (Derry, Pa./Derry Area) and Colin Sherwin (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe). The pair combined for 579 kills last season. Rumbaugh said the tempo of the Saint Francis offense is something to keep an eye on as the new season begins.
 
"We're passing better and running a faster offense," he said. "We got some arms that can put the ball away."
 
After amassing 716 assists last year, setter Michael Krepp (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) returns for his senior season. And the play of Mark Kochan (Towaco, N.J./Seton Hall Prep), who finished last year with a 1.27 blocks per set average, should put the Red Flash on the right track to a season-opening win.
 
"We have to try to match up size-wise with them," Rumbaugh said. "We have to put our block in front of them and serve tough."
 
Senior libero Lucas Behringer (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) agreed.
 
"As long as we serve well, we'll be able to put up blocks everywhere and our defense should be able to pop up the ball," he said. "We should be able to run it right back at them. I'm excited for our first game."
 
The contest with Ball State begins at 7:00 p.m. at DeGol Arena.