Flash Points:

• Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) reaches a milestone with his 1,000^th kill.
• Braswell finished with a team-high 12 kills, while Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) recorded 8.
• Freshman Ryan Alu (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West HS) contributed on the defense with 9 digs.
• Roman Szwabinsky (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South High School) dished out 25 assist.

 
Loretto, Pa. - The Saint Francis men's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision against No. 9 Penn State on Saturday night at DeGol Arena to open EIVA action.  The Nittany Lions won 25-23, 25-18, and 25-20.

With the loss, Saint Francis falls to 5-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while Penn State moves to 6-2 and 1-0 in EIVA.

Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) hits a milestone as he reaches his 1,000^th career kill while also finishing with a team-high 12 kills on the night. Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) contributed with 8. Freshman Ryan Alu (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West HS) provided the defense with 9 digs while Roman Szwabinsky (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South High School) helped dish out 25 assist.
 
Set One:

• Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) and Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) gets the Red Flash off to a hot start, scoring the matches first four points as they jump out to a 6-1 lead.
• Braswell reached his 1,000^th career kills during the 6-1 run.
• The Nittany Lions battle back as Kevin Gear cuts the Flash's lead to one point, 7-6.
• A kill and service ace from Keith Kegerreis (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) and Cole Thompson (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos) helps the Red Flash jump out to another big lead, 12-7, forcing PSU to call its first timeout.
• PSU would fight back and tie things up at 17, forcing SFU call its first timeout.
• The rest of the set would remain close but Penn State would push away with the win, 25-23

 
Set Two:

• Two attack errors from Penn State would help SFU jump out to a 3-0 lead.
• Buck and Braswell would keep things close until Penn State would go on a 5-0 run to lead, 17-12.
• Following a SFU timeout, the Flash would inch back (22-18) and force PSU to call its first timeout of the set.
• After the timeout, Jalen Penrose and Kevin Gear would rally the Nittany Lions to a 3-0 run and take the match, 25-18.

Set Three:

• Saint Francis and Penn State scratched and clawed to begin the third set.
• PSU would eventually go on a 4-0 run to give them a 14-8 lead.
• Freshman Roman Szwabinsky (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South High School) would help set up a Braswell kill to tie things up at 19.
• A 6-1 Nittany Lion run would allow them to go on and win the third set, 25-20.

 
Saint Francis will continue its EIVA home stand as they will welcome in Harvard and Sacred Heart next weekend. Both matches are slated to start at 7 p.m.