With the Red Flash claiming the first two sets and the Mastodons claiming the next two sets, the match came down to the wire in the fifth set. The Mastodons got on the board first and continued to hold the lead early on in the fifth and final set. With the Red Flash down 11-10, the squad was able to go on a 3-0 run to take the lead for a score of 13-11. However, the Mastodons responded with a 2-0 run to tie the set, 13-13. A block from Alex Finch (Mount Wolf, Pa./Northeastern), followed by a kill from Leahey sealed the fifth set, 15-13 for the Red Flash victory.  
 
Sets three and four were also huge turning points in the match as the Mastodons claimed both sets to tie the match 2-2.
 
The third set was completely controlled by Purdue Fort Wayne. The Red Flash held a two-point lead early in the third set to make the score 5-3. However, once the Mastodons responded with a 6-0 run the Fort Wayne squad could not be stopped. Saint Francis was unable to claim the lead again in the third set, which allowed Fort Wayne to claim the third set, 25-20.
 
The fourth set continued to be all Mastodons with the team starting the set off with a 3-0 run to never allow the Red Flash to lead in the set. With the score 22-17, the Red Flash went on a 4-1 run of its own to pull back within one to make the score 22-23. However, the run would not be enough to hold off the Mastodons from clinching the fourth set, 25-23.

FLASH MOMENTS
The first point of the match went to the Red Flash and the squad was able to maintain that lead early on. After a block from Parker, Saint Francis took its biggest lead of the set to make the score 5-2. However, the Mastodons were able to bounce back later on by going on a 5-0 run to make the score 7-8 in favor of Fort Wayne. The first set turned into a battle with both programs taking lead opportunities throughout. With the Red Flash down 21-19, the team was able to go on a 4-0 run to take the lead and make the score 23-21. A kill from Liprando followed by blocks from Andrew Deardorff (Itasca, Ill./Lake Park), Leahey and Lewis, the Red Flash were able to claim the first set against the Mastodons for the second day in a row, 25-23.
 
The Mastodons started of the second set with a 2-0 run. However, the Red Flash responded by going on a 2-0 run themselves. With the Red Flash down in the set, 6-8 the team was able to bounce back by going on a 6-0 run that featured kills from Lewis and Leahey to make the score 12-8. The Red Flash never allowed the Mastodons to lead again in this set. After a block from Leahey, The Red Flash sealed the second set with a score of 25-23.

FLASH NUGGETS
The last time the Red Flash played a five-set match was last season in a conference matchup against NJIT. Saint Francis was unable to pull off that match.
 
Saturday's victory marks the first time the Red Flash have defeated Purdue Fort Wayne since 2017 in another five-set game. This now puts Saint Francis men's volleyball at 7-14 overall against the Mastodons.
 
Joshua Blair (Matterson, Ill./ Marian Catholic) received his first service ace of the season in the match on Saturday.
 
With Parker recording a new single game high of four service aces in Friday's game and a new single game high of 27 assists in Saturday's game, that makes two consecutive days of Parker breaking his personal best.

UP NEXT
The Red Flash will return home to first take on George Mason University on Friday, Feb. 4 at 7:00 p.m. followed by Princeton University on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 6:00 p.m.