Flash Points:

• Saint Francis welcomes Penn State on Tuesday.
• Match is set of 7 p.m.
• Tuesday's match will be broadcasted on NEC Front Row.

 
LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's volleyball teams hosts in-state rival No. 13 Penn State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The match will be live streamed on NEC Front Row.
 
Saint Francis, lead by head coach Mike Rumbaugh, enters Tuesday's matchup with a 4-8 overall record and is 0-3 in conference play after falling to Princeton ad NJIT both in five sets. Michael Fisher (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley (Pepperdine)) led the Flash with 35 kills, while Jeff Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria) recorded 30 kills and 23 digs over the weekend.
 
FRESHMAN IMPACT
Fisher ranks second in the conference in kills per set (3.95) and kills (166). For his efforts against Long Beach State and Barton during the weekend of Jan. 27-28, Fisher was named Off the Block Freshman of the Week. The Mechanicsburg Pa. native currently sits in 10th in the NCAA in attacks per set (8.12).
 
IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
Senior setter Daniel Ford (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) ranks first in the EIVA in assists per set with 10.50, and seventh nationally. Against NJIT and Princeton last weekend, Ford accumulated 96 assists and averaged 9.6 assists per set.
 
BIG THREE
Fisher, Hogan and Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) all rank in the top-six in kills in the EIVA. Fisher leads the pack with 166, Hogan ranks fourth with 152 while Braswell has amassed 131 and ranks sixth.  The trio has accounted for 360 kills or 74 percent of the team's kills. Hogan's 83 digs on the season ranks third in the EIVA.
 
ABOUT THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State is 8-4 on the season and has an unblemished conference record at 3-0. The Nittany Lions are the 13th-ranked in this week's AVCA Division I-II Poll. PSU defeated NJIT and Princeton both in five sets last weekend. Chris Nugent leads PSU and the conference in kills with 173 and ranks fifth in the EIVA in kills per set (3.60). Nugent, Calvin Mende and Lee Smith pace the PSU offensive attack, all ranking in the top-five in the EIVA in hitting percentage. The Penn State defense is led by Royce Clemens, who is the conference leader in digs (117) and second in digs per set (2.44). Kevin Gear is a force up front, ranking third in the EIVA in blocks per set (1.02), while Luke Braswell is third in the conference in assists per set (10.26).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saint Francis trails the all-time series against Penn State, 2-40. PSU defeated SFU in straight sets on Feb. 3 at Rec Hall.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
Video and live stats will be provided for Tuesday's match. Information can be found in the men's volleyball schedule page.
 
NEXT TIME OUT…
Saint Francis continues its homestand on Friday and Saturday against Sacred Heart and Harvard. Friday's match is set for 7 p.m. and Saturday's match has been moved to 6 p.m.