WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Saint Francis University men's volleyball lost in three sets to the Highlanders of NJIT on Friday to drop to 7-6 overall and 4-2 in the EIVA.
 
Ryan Parker (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) led the Red Flash in digs by recording a new single game career high of eight digs. While leading both programs with 32 assists and three service aces on the day.
 
Blake Liprando (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led both teams in kills in the match to collect 12 on the day.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
NJIT was fueled after claiming the first set of the match to be able to go on and claim the next two sets to ultimately claim the straight set victory over the Red Flash. The Highlanders took the lead to start the match off in the first set.

The Red Flash took its first lead of the game and only lead of the first set with a kill by Thomas Leahey (State College, Pa./State College Area) to make the score 5-6. NJIT responded by going on an 8-0 run to make the score 13-6 for the Highlanders to be able to go on and claim the first set, 25-19.
 
FLASH MOMENTS
NJIT got on the board first in the second set, but the Red Flash responded by going on a 3-1 run that featured a service ace from Andrew Deardorff (Itasca, Ill./Lake Park). Saint Francis never allowed NJIT to take the lead again in the second set until the Highlanders went on a 5-0 run at the end of the second set for the New Jersey squad to clinch the second set, 25-23. Despite NJIT taking the second set, Liprando recorded six of his kills in this set. While Parker put up two out of his three service aces in the second set.
 
The Red Flash started off the third set with an early lead to hold the Highlanders from taking the lead until later on to make the score 8-7. Both teams continued to battle for a while until the Highlanders were able to go on 4-0 run to make the score 22-16 for NJIT to take the third and final set, 25-21.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
The Red Flash will have another chance to take on the Highlanders when the Newark, N.J., squad comes to Loretto on April 8.
 
NJIT continues to lead the series between both programs with an overall record of 34-22.
 
UP NEXT
The Red Flash will continue conference action at St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m.