WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Saint Francis University men's volleyball dropped a 3-1 match to the Crimson of Harvard University on Saturday to go to 12-10 overall and 6-6 in the EIVA.
 
Saturday's match required a total of three extended sets out of the four played.
 
Nathan Zini (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle Catholic), Joshua Blair (Matterson, Ill./ Marian Catholic) and Andrew Deardorff (Itasca, Ill./Lake Park) put up a combined 29 kills on the day.
 
Blake Liprando (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Thomas Leahey (State College, Pa./State College Area) and Zini combined for nine kills for the Red Flash in Saturday's game.
 
AJ Schmidt (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) posted 41 assists for the Red Flash squad.
 
TURNING POINTS OF THE GAME
With the Red Flash down 2-1, the fourth set was the deciding factor for the match. The Red Flash took its first lead of the fourth set after a 3-0 run to make the score 4-3 to maintain that lead until the Crimson found its way back in to take the lead and make the score 11-10, but that lead didn't last long for Harvard thanks to back-to-back service aces from Leahey. Leahey's aces allowed the Red Flash to maintain the lead until the Crimson took it again late in the set to make the score 22-21. The Crimson were able to take the fourth and final set at a score of 31-29.
 
FLASH MOMENTS 

The Crimson started off the match by going on a 3-0 run, but the Red Flash responded with a 4-0 run to take its first lead of the match and turn the first set into a back-and-forth battle between both programs. With the Red Flash down 22-21 in the first set, the squad came up with a 4-1 run to claim the first set. It was a block from Blair that secured the first set for the Red Flash 25-23.
 
The second set was more of the same with both teams battling for the point. With the Red Flash down 20-16 in the second set, the squad went on a 7-2 run that featured two clutch blocks coming from Leahey, Deardorff and Schmidt to take the late lead and make the score 23-22, but Harvard came back with a 3-1 run to require the set to be extended. Both teams continued to battle in the second set, but the Crimson were able to claim the second set with a score of 31-29 to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The third set was another battle with both men's volleyball programs tying on several occasions. This set also required to be extended, but the Crimson were able to go on a 3-0 run at the end of the set to claim it, 26-24 to make Harvard one set away from victory.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
Joey Ferragonio (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) made his first start of the season in Saturday's game.
 
Michael Mosbacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) made his second debut of the season and his career towards the end of the first set in Saturday's match.
 
UP NEXT
Red Flash men's volleyball will stay in Loretto, Pa., next weekend to take on Damen College on Friday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. and No. 2 Penn State University on Saturday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m.