» Saint Francis University men's volleyball defeated the Patriots of George Mason University in straight sets on Friday to go 3-4 overall and 1-0 in conference.
»Blake Liprando (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the Red Flash in kills with 13 overall. While team leader Joshua Blair (Matterson, Ill./ Marian Catholic) followed closely behind with 10 kills on the day.
» Thomas Leahey (State College, Pa./State College Area) had four blocks overall in the match to lead both teams in blocks.
» Trevor Lewis (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) landed on top in serving aces to have two in the match.
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
After Red Flash men's volleyball claimed the first two sets, the squad continued to take advantage of home court in the third set. Although the third set tied a few times, Saint Francis never allowed George Mason to take the lead in this set. It was a 5-1 run from the Red Flash that sealed the third and final set for the squad, 25-19 for the team to claim the straight set victory.
FLASH MOMENTS
The Red Flash controlled the first set at the start to maintain the lead for the majority of the time. However, the Patriots went on an 8-1 run to take the lead over the Red Flash for the first time and make the score 16-15, but Saint Francis men's volleyball was not finished yet. It was a 6-0 run that featured blocks from Lewis and Blair, a service ace from Leahey and a kill from Blair to give the Red Flash the lead for the score to be 22-17. It was a kill again from Blair that sealed the first set for Red Flash men's volleyball, 25-21.
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The Patriots started off strong in the second set to go on a 3-0 run and maintain that lead throughout the second set. However, after Coach Rumbaugh won a challenge to give Blair a service ace, the Red Flash took its first lead of the second set to make the score 8-7. Saint Francis men's volleyball maintained the lead for the remainder of the second set until the set had to be extended past 25 and the Patriots took the lead for a score of 27-26. The Red Flash responded by going on a 3-0 run with kills from Liprando and
Alex Finch (Mount Wolf, Pa./Northeastern). It was a kill from Lewis that clinched the extended second set for the Red Flash, 29-27 to make the Red Flash squad one set away from victory.
FLASH NUGGETS
The victory on Friday marks the first time the Red Flash have defeated the Patriots since the 2019 season. Saint Francis also won that match in straight sets.
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The last time the Red Flash started off conference action 1-0 was in 2014.
UP NEXT
Red Flash men's volleyball will continue to be at home this weekend to take on the Tigers of Princeton University on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 6:00 p.m.
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