Flash Points:

• Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) and Breanna Opera (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster ) led the way with nine kills each
• Roush added two total blocks while Sophie Murdock (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion ) led the team with 3.5
• Jenna Veres (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) had 22 digs to lead SFU

LORETTO, PA- Saint Francis took the first set in the NEC opener against Bryant, but the Bulldogs rallied to win the final three, taking Saturday's match 22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-9 at DeGol Arena. 

The Red Flash got a balanced offensive effort on Saturday, with Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) and Breanna Opera (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster ) leading the way with nine kills while Christa White (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) and Sophie Murdock (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion ) each added seven. The SFU defense also chipped in 10 points on 20 total blocks led by Murdock's solo block and five block assists. 

In the first set, the Flash looked to take control early, running out to a 10-5 lead off four kills by four different players. After the teams traded points, Bryant rallied back to tie the match at 17 as the Bulldog defense forced errors from the Flash offense. Out of a SFU timeout, the Flash re-took control of the set. The Red Flash won four of the next five points led by Opera's kill and service ace. Bryant would get no closer than two points the rest of the set as the Flash prevailed 25-22. 

The second set was another back-and-forth affair as the teams split the first 14 points of the match. The turning point came at 7-7 when Bryant ripped off six-straight points on the strength of Julia Flynn's serve. Saint Francis would rally back, getting to within three points on two different occasions but could pull no closer as Bryant tied the match at a set each with a 25-20 victory. 

Bryant got off to a quick start in the third set, forcing Saint Francis to constantly play from behind. Down 12-8, Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) led a service run of six-straight points that included an ace as the Flash stormed back to take a 14-12 lead. The teams would trade points and mini-runs until Roush's kill tied the match at 20. Bryant then rallied back to win the final five points of the pivotal set and took the third set 25-20. 

It would be all Bulldogs in the fourth set, running out to leads of 8-0 and 12-3. Saint Francis could not sustain any momentum to put together a run as the Bulldogs continued to pull away, eventually winning the deciding set 25-9. 

Jenna Veres (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) led everyone with 22 digs while Amelia Metzler (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield) paced the Flash with 22 assists. Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) also added three service aces to her stat line to lead all players. The loss drops Saint Francis to 4-10 overall and 0-1 in the NEC while Bryant evens their record at 9-9 and are 1-0 in the NEC. Saint Francis will look to rebound tomorrow as they take on the Central Connecticut Blue Devils at 2 p.m.