LORETTO, Pa. – The Red Flash men's volleyball team is back in action this weekend, taking on Sacred Heart Friday and Saturday at DeGol Arena for two conference battles.
Both the Red Flash and the Pioneers have a chance to pick up their first conference win of the season this weekend, with the teams combining to start 0-14.
The Matchup: Saint Francis (1-14, 0-8) vs. Sacred Heart (0-6, 0-6)
Location: DeGol Arena (Loretto, Pa.)
Game 1: Friday, March 5 – 7:00 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game 2: Saturday, March 6 – 4:00 p.m.
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart comes into the weekend as the last EIVA team without a win in 2021. Without a nonconference schedule, the Pioneers have played just six matches thus far, going winless against NJIT, Penn State, and Charleston. The Pioneers have won two sets this season, falling in sweeps in four of six.
The leader of the Pioneers offense is junior Nicholas Palluzzi, who has 39 kills through six. Shawn Tischler has also eclipsed the 30-kill mark, sitting with 32 currently. Three other Pioneers have double-digit kills. Teddy Payne and Tyler Kwinta have handled passing duties for Sacred Heart, registering a combined 132 of 162 team assists.
On defense, Sacred Heart has gotten a team-leading eight total blocks from Aaron Peterson, followed by Tischler with six, and senior Timothy McIntosh has a third of the team's total digs with 54.
SERIES HISTORY
The Red Flash lead the series, 23-4, dating back to 1997. Heading into the weekend, Saint Francis has won three in a row and eight of the last nine. Last season, the teams only met once, with the Red Flash taking home a sweep in Fairfield. Blake Liprando had a match-high 12 kills, with Michael Fisher adding 11. AJ Schmidt also had a strong performance in that meeting, picking up a match-high three service aces and adding eight kills.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, the Red Flash were swept twice by No. 14 NJIT, who this week moved up to No. 12 for their highest ranking in program history. Blake Liprando picked up the most kills for the Red Flash, averaging seven per match. On Friday, freshman Peyton Blain came in for Saint Francis and picked up a match-high two service aces in just one set.
EIVA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Michael Fisher and Joshua Blair sit at four and five in the conference with 95 and 82 kills, respectively. Fisher is also second with 254 total attacks. Blair also leads the EIVA in blocks, totaling 5-29-34. Matthew Menosky and AJ Schmidt are first and third in the conference in digs, with Menosky at 71 and Schmidt at 66.
RED FLASH STATISTICAL LEADERS
KILLS – Michael Fisher (3.28/set)
ASST – Roman Szwabinsky (8.11/set)
DIGS – AJ Schmidt (1.53/set)
TOTAL BLOCKS – Zac Cabral (0.92/set)
SERVICE ACES – Peyton Blain (0.40/set)
UP NEXT
Following this weekend, the Red Flash will continue its homestand, welcoming No. 10 Penn State to town next weekend. The matches are set for March 12 and 13, both at 7:00 p.m., and will be live on NEC Front Row.
Follow Saint Francis Men's Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram to get up-to-date information and a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Flash.
To learn more about Saint Francis University, visit francis.edu.
