LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's volleyball team opens the 2016 season at the University of Mount Olive on Friday and Barton College on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE FLASH
Head coach Mike Rumbaugh enters his 18th season for the Red Flash. Saint Francis is picked fourth in the annual EIVA coaches' preseason poll. Senior middle hitter Mike Marshman (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) and redshirt sophomore outside hitter Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) led the offensive charge for the Red Flash. The pair combined for 421 kills last season. Daniel Ford (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) returns after posting just under 700 assists and added 111 digs last season.
 
ABOUT THE TROJAN
Mount Olive is under the direction of head coach David Heller, who enters his fourth season. The Trojans finished last season with a 15-11 overall record and finished third in the Conference Carolinas with an 11-7 record. The Flash look to contain 2015 All-Conference second-teamer Andrew Sydowm, who led the Trojans last season with 220 kills and was third in the nation in hitting percentage. SFU holds an 8-1 series advantage over Mount Olive including a three-game sweep last season.
 
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Jeff Lennox enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Bulldogs. Barton is coming off a 13-18 season and finished seventh in the conference. Senior Pierre Tang-Taye is back for the Bulldogs after being named to the Conference Carolinas All-Conference First Team. Tang-Taye ranked second in the NCAA with 455 kills. This is the second meeting between the two schools with SFU winning last years contest in three sets.
 
NEXT TIME OUT
The Flash travels to Illinois to face 2015 national runner-up Lewis University on Jan. 15 and defending national champions Loyola University Chicago on Jan.16. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
VIDEO AND LIVE STATS
Live stats and video are available for both matches and links are provided in the volleyball schedule page.