LORETTO, Pa. – Only 62 miles separates No. 14 Saint Francis and No. 9 Penn State -- as the two schools clash this Friday in the first EIVA game of the season at DeGol Arena at 7:30 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE FLASH
 
SFU looks for their third straight win, and aim for their fourth win in their last five matches. The Flash holds a 3-3 overall record and is 0-0 in EIVA leading up to their match against Penn State. Saint Francis is coming off a weekend sweep against IPFW in three sets last Friday and a come-from-behind win against No. 14 Ball State last Saturday. Saint Francis trailed two games to one against Ball State to shock the Cardinals, 3-2.
 
Senior Mike Marshman (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central)'s .535 hitting percentage currently leads the EIVA, and is second nationally. He has hit over .400 in all six matches this season. Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern)'s 72 kills rank him third in the EIVA, while Jeff Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria)'s 70 kills are fourth in the conference. Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge)s' 42 digs ranks him fifth in the conference. Daniel Ford (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) is third in the EIVA in assists per set with 9.54.
 
As a team, Saint Francis ranks first in the EIVA in three categories: hitting percentage (.287), service aces (29) and digs (213). The Flash is second in the conference in assists (258), kills (282) and total blocks (45).
 
Saint Francis' .287 hitting percentage is good enough for 14th in the country, while their 8.88 digs per set ranks them 10th in the NCAA.
 
The Flash comes into the Keystone State matchup ranked No. 14 in the country. The last time the Flash was ranked in the poll was on January 18, 2010, when SFU reached No. 15. SFU is 0-37 all time against PSU.
 
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
 
Penn State is on a three-game winning streak and are 4-2 overall, while holding a 0-0 record in the EIVA. The Nittany Lions are also coming off a weekend sweep against Ball State and IPFW. PSU defeated IPFW and the Cardinals in three straight sets.
 
Outside hitter Chris Nugent's 4.14 kills per set and 91 kills lead the conference. Nugent ranks fifth in the EIVA in hitting percentage with a .302. Jalen Penrose is second in the conference in kills with 75, and is third in service aces per set with 0.47. Royce Clemens' 2.18 digs per set ranks him fifth, and is second in digs with 48. Matt Callaway is ranked second in the blocks per set with 1.09, while Taylor Hammond leads the conference in assists per set with 11.24, and ranks him fifth in the country.
 
NEXT TIME OUT
The Flash continues their homestand next week against Lees-McRae on Friday and Pfeiffer on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
VIDEO AND LIVE STATS
 
LIVE STATS: http://www.sidearmstats.com/francis/mvball/
 
VIDEO: http://necfrontrow.com/schools.php?title=SFPA