Flash Points:
- SFU men's volleyball travels to Chicago for a pair of non-conference matches.
- Both matches are slated to start at 7 p.m. CT.
- Live stats and video will be provided for both matches.
LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men's volleyball team travels to Chicago for a pair of non-conference matches against No.10 Loyola-Chicago and No. 7 Lewis starting on Friday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.
Saint Francis, led by head coach
Mike Rumbaugh, enters the weekend with a 9-12 overall record. SFU defeated California Baptist in five sets last Saturday at DeGol Arena.
Jeff Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria) led the Flash with 25 kills and 10 digs in the win.
BLOCK PARTY
In a 3-2 win against Cal Baptist last Saturday,
Tony Nicotra (Allison Park, Pa./Deer Lakes) led the Flash with a career-high eight total blocks. For his efforts in the victory, the senior was named EIVA Defensive Player of the Week, which was the first of his career.
DIGGING HIS WAY TO THE TOP
Sophomore
Gabe Woffindin (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) ranks third in the EIVA in digs per set (2.35) and third in digs (167). The Allentown, Pa., native has recorded double-digit digs in 12 matches this season.
BIG THREE
Hogan,
Michael Fisher (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley (Pepperdine)) and
Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) all rank in the top-five in kills in the EIVA. Hogan is second in the EIVA with 277, Fisher ranks third with 224 while Braswell has amassed 214 and ranks fifth. The trio has accounted for 715 kills or 69 percent of the team's kills.
ABOUT THE RAMBLERS
The Ramblers are 12-8 overall and are the 10th-ranked team in the country. Loyola has split its last eight matches and is 1-2 in their last three home matches. LUC has five players with at least 100 kills, led by Ben Plaisted's 193 kills. Jeff Jendryk is second on the squad with 160 kills and has a .446 hitting clip, which is sixth in the NCAA. The middle blocker has totaled 90 total blocks on the season. Collin Mahon has tallied 110 digs while Ian Cowen has 632 assists.
ABOUT THE FLYERS
Lewis enters the weekend with a 17-6 record and is ranked No.7 in the latest AVCA Poll. Lewis fell to No. 2 Ohio State last weekend in five sets. Mitch Perinar leads five players that have surpassed the century mark in kills. He has collected 281 kills on the year and averages 3.35 kills per set. Michael Simmons ranks first for Lewis in digs with 201.
SERIES HISTORY
Saint Francis trails the all-time series against Lewis, 2-18, and Loyola-Chicago, 2-12. Saint Francis rallied from down two sets to none to take Lewis to five sets but the Flyers defeated the Flash, 15-11, on Jan. 21.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live stats and video will be provided for both matches. Information can be found in the men's volleyball schedule page.
NEXT TIME OUT…
Saint Francis returns home next weekend to resume conference play against NJIT and Princeton. Friday's match against NJIT is scheduled for 7 p.m., while the Princeton match is set for 4 p.m.
