A kill from Adams put the Red Flash on the board to start the first set with a 3-0 run. However, Central Connecticut hustled back to take its first lead of the night and make the score 10-8 after a 2-0 run. A kill from Madi Tyus (Plano, Texas/Bishop Lynch) put Saint Francis back on top to make the score 12-11 and the squad never allowed the Blue Devils to lead again in the first set. The Red Flash took its biggest lead of the night after clinching the first set, 25-16. This was the fuel that the Loretto program needed to claim the next two sets to secure the straight set victory.

FLASH QUOTES
"It was such a surreal feeling. I don't even know if I can put words to it" said Adams on securing the match for the Red Flash on senior night. "We have worked for four years to be in this spot and now that we are finally here experiencing it, it's the most unbelievable feeling. It feels like our hard work is finally paying off and I'm so thankful for all of our teammates and the journey that's gotten us here."
 
"It feels amazing" said Coach Sara McMullen on clinching a victory to go to the NEC Tournament in the first time in her coaching career. "I think this was a build up of four years because this class has been here the entire time with me. They were one of my first recruiting classes. So it makes super special to be able to have a vision when they are freshmen and now see it come through when they are seniors."  

FLASH MOMENTS
The Blue Devils went on a 3-0 run of its own to start the second set. Central Connecticut controlled the second set early on. However, the Red Flash could not be stopped that easily. A kill from Adams allowed Saint Francis to tie the second set and make the score 10-10. An attack error, followed by another kill from Adams allowed the Red Flash to take its first lead of the second set and never allow the Blue Devils to take the lead again in the second set. After a kill from Aubrey Deptula (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton Community), the Red Flash took its biggest lead of the second set to make the score 17-13. The Blue Devils hustled back to tie the second set and make the score 19-19. Back-to-back kills from Tyus allowed the Red Flash to gain a two-point advantage over the Blue Devils and make the score 21-19. After a kill from Adams, Saint Francis secured the second set, 25-21 to lead the match 2-0.
 
Central Connecticut had a 2-0 run to start the third set. After Coach McMullen pulled a challenge card on an indecisive call, the Red Flash won the challenge and that momentum changed the entire third set. After the Red Flash won the challenge, the team went on a 5-0 run to claim an early lead and make the score 5-2. The Red Flash claimed its biggest lead of the second set after a kill from Adams to make the score 8-4. However, the Blue Devils came back to take the lead and make the score 13-11. The remainder of the third set continued to be a battle between the two programs. With the Blue Devils leading 21-20, a kill from Tyus tied the set 21-21. A kill from Adams secured the third and final set for the Red Flash, 25-22.

FLASH NUGGETS
The Saint Francis seniors showed out in their senior night match. Adams and Tyus combined for 35 kills, Sophie Rice (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Adams collect three blocks a piece and Kimmy Sweeney (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Beaumont School) put up 41 assists on the day.

This is the first time the Saint Francis women's volleyball program has beat the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut since they did it back in 2015 in a four-set victory.

UP NEXT
Red Flash volleyball will conclude its regular season schedule on the road next weekend to first take on the Sharks of Long Island University on Friday, November 12 at 6:00 p.m. Followed by its last game of the regular season on Saturday, November 13 at 6:00 p.m. against St. Francis Brooklyn.