Men’s Volleyball Hosts EIVA No.9 Penn State for EIVA Opener
By: Bobby Dragon
Flash Points:
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Saint Francis welcomes Penn State for EIVA Home Opener
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Match time is set for 7 p.m.
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Live Stats and video will be provided
Loretto, Pa.- The Saint Francis men's volleyball team will host in-state rival No. 9 Penn State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at DeGol Arena. The match will be live streamed on NEC Front Row.
Saint Francis enters Saturday's conference matchup with a 5-7 overall record after dropping two games last weekend. Saturday's matchup against Penn State will be the fourth time in the last six matches Saint Francis will play a ranked opponent. Despite dropping the first two sets against Fort Wayne, SFU managed to steal a set before falling in a close fourth set to lose 3-1. The following night against Ball State, SFU jumped out to a good start as they kept things close at 1-1. Ball State eventually applied some pressure and went on to win the last two sets and match, 3-1. Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) led the Flash with 25 kills.
In The Driver's Seat
Senior outside hitter Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) ranks first in the EIVA for the third consecutive week in number of kills with 112. He also ranks ninth in the NCAA in Aces Per Set with .561. Against No.13 UC Santa Barbara, Braswell had a season high 14 kills along with a .491 hitting percentage to help lead Saint Francis to a 3-1 win. Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) and Cole Thompson (Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos) are currently second and third in the EIVA in kills.
Can You Dig It?
Braswell and freshman Ryan Alu (Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West HS) currently rank third and fourth in the EIVA in digs as Braswell has 79 and Alu follows with 72. The freshman made an immediate impact in his first weekend as a Red Flash, when he recorded 26 digs total and helped SFU take down two ranked opponents in No. 8 Stanford and No. 13 UC Santa Barbara.
Two Brothers in Red and Blue
The matchup on Saturday will be the third time Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) and Luke Braswell will face off. Last season, the brothers faced off against each other two times (2/3/17 and 4/22/17) as the younger brother helped the Nittany Lions to a 3-0 EIVA championship win.
About the Nittany Lions
Penn State enters this weekend with a 5-2 overall record and ranked No. 9 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll. Penn State's losses have been against top-five opponents (UCLA and Ohio State). Penn State capped off last weekend with two big wins against Ball State and Fort Wayne. Aidan Albrecht and Jalen Penrose currently lead the Nittany Lions with 70 kills apiece. Luke Braswell leads Penn State and the conference in assists per set with 9.96. Kevin Gear leads the blocking up front for the Nittany Lions with 25.
Series History
The Red Flash trails the all-time series 3-31, but managed to pull out a big 3-2 win last season. Former Red Flash Jeff Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria) provided the Flash with 13 kills as Daniel Ford (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) dished out 43 assists.
Follow Along
Live Stats and Live Video will be provided for Saturday's match. Information can be found in the men's volleyball schedule page.
Next Time Out…
Saint Francis continues its EIVA home stand, as the Red Flash welcome Harvard and Sacred Heart next weekend. Both matches are slated to start at 7 p.m.
