Flash Points: 

• Emily Marcinowski (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) and Breanna Opera (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster ) posted double-doubles
• SFU combined for eight blocks as a team
• Jenna Veres (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) led five players in double figures with 28 digs

LORETTO, PA-  Emily Marcinowski (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) had 17 kills and 16 digs but LIU battled back to outlast the Flash in five sets, winning 15-7 in the deciding set. 

Marcinowski's 17 kills led three players in double figures as Breanna Opera (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster ) (13) and Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) (10) joined her. Roush and Marcinowski both had double digit digs as well, posting 17 and 16, respectfully. 

Saint Francis took the first set 25-21, taking hold of the momentum midway through the set. Neither team was able to build more than a two-point lead until Sophie Murdock (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion ) and Amelia Metzler (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield) struck on back-to-back points to give SFU a 17-14 advantage. Breanna Opera (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster ) put the set out of reach with a kill and a solo block that put SFU up five at 20-15. The Red Flash withstood a run by LIU who closed within one at 22-21 before a pair of aces from Elise Domouchelle closed out a four-point run to give the Flash the first set. 

In the second set, the Flash ran out to the early lead and began to pull away midway through the set. Again it was Doumouchelle on the serve as the Flash used a pair of Marcinowski kills to open up a 16-9 lead after four-straight points off the freshman's service. The Blackbirds would rally, closing to within two but Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) put the set away. She had a pair of aces as part of a five-point run that put SFU up 24-16, the teams traded points as a Murdock kill put the Flash up two sets to none. 

LIU flipped the script in the third set as it was the Blackbirds who grabbed the early lead. LIU scored seven of the first 11 points of the set to put Saint Francis on the comeback trail. Marcinowski found the touch midway through the third as she ripped off three straight kills to bring SFU within two at 15-13. That would be as close as the Flash could get in the third as a late run from the Blackbirds put the set out of reach and a 25-19 LIU set three win sent the match to a fourth set. 

Set four saw a game of runs as LIU Brooklyn scored eight of the first 10 points to grab the momentum early. Roush and the Flash battled back, winning five-straight points off the Johnstown native's serve to tie the match. After the teams traded monster runs, neither squad led by more than three. After LIU built that modest lead, the Flash answered with four straight of their own to lead 17-16. LIU was able to win two critical points with the set tied at 22 and closed out the set at 25-23. 

The deciding set saw the Blackbirds take the advantage after the teams split the first 10 points. A pair of Red Flash attack errors gave LIU a 8-6 lead as the teams switched sides. Out of the switch, LIU reeled off five straight kills to lead 13-6. That run proved too much to overcome as LIU won the deciding set 15-7. 

The loss puts SFU at 0-5 in NEC play and 4-14 overall. LIU improved to 3-1 in the NEC and 6-11 overall. The Flash will look for their first win on Sunday at 3 p.m. when they welcome in St. Francis Brooklyn to DeGol Arena.