LORETTO, PA- Saint Francis got a balanced effort across the board and won their third-straight match defeating Norfolk State on Saturday Morning as part of the Red Flash Classic.
 
Emily Marcinowski (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) had 12 kills to lead the way and the SFU defense held Norfolk to a -.010 hitting percentage in the 25-10, 25-19, 25-15 victory as the Red Flash even their record at 6-6 and surpass last year's win total.
 
McMullen's Reaction
 "I liked the way we competed this morning," head coach Sara McMullen said. "Norfolk is a quick and athletic team and it can be easy to lose composure against a team like that. We stayed focused an picked up a big win."

SET ONE RECAP

• The Red Flash took control of the first set early, winning eight-straight points off Jenna Veres (Independence, Ohio/Padua Franciscan)' serve to go up 10-2
• Emily Marcinowski (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) and Sophia Esposito (Coraopolis, PA/Montour (Gardner-Webb)) had two combo blocks in the run, Marcinowski finished with four block assists and Esposito three in the match
• Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) had two kills in a five-point run for SFU as they led by as many as 15 in the opening set, cruising to the 25-10 win

SET TWO RECAP

• A Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) ace and two Marcinowski kills fueled a five-point run midway through the set that broke open a then one-point set
• The SFU defense held Norfolk to a -.026 hitting percentage in the set
• A Ceceilia Esposito kill finished off the set at 25-19, stopping a three-point Spartan run

 
SET THREE RECAP

• Another Veres service run, this one six points, broke open the final set early on
• Emily Pieper (Paonia, Colo./Paonia) had two kills during the run and finished with five kills and a block assist
• After a Spartan rally, Lauren Williams (Reno, Nev./Damonte Ranch) put the set out of reach with a three-point service run that included an ace
• A kill from Kelsey Roush (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) put SFU on the doorstep of the win and their defense forced an attack error to clinch the three-set win

LOOKING AHEAD
SFU is back in the gym this afternoon to take on Morehead State at 4 p.m. to wrap up the Red Flash Classic.