>>The Red Flash defeated FDU in four sets (22-25, 25-13, 25-17, 25-20), snapping their nine-match winning streak and earning a spot in the 2023 NEC Championship Tournament.
(Clarion, Pa.) led Saint Francis in kills with 34, the most in a match for Saint Francis since 2001 and the most in the NEC this season. She is also now third in all of Division I for kills in a four-set match.
FDU fought hard in the fourth set, tying the set at 20 apiece before Saint Francis put up a five-point run to win the match. Still on fire, Burns began the Red Flash run, getting the ball between the Knights and the net. After FDU sent the ball outside,
Drew Wallech (Hagerstown, Md.) sailed the ball into the back row of the Knights, causing FDU to take a timeout. Burns sent the ball past the Knights' defense, tallying her 34th kill of the night and bringing up match point. Up 24-20,
Kori McClure (Westerville, Ohio) and Wallech blocked an attack attempt from the Knights on the left, winning the match.
FLASH QUOTES
"This was an overall team win. We had amazing energy from the bench and everyone player as a strong unit. We love that we earned our sport in the tournament and are playing some high level volleyball when it matters." – head coach
Sara Spielvogel on winning and securing a spot in the NEC Championship Tournament
"Korrin was in the zone tonight and played an amazing match. She is a very physical player and executed at an incredible level tonight." – Spielvogel on Burns setting the record for kills in a match for Saint Francis
FLASH MOMENTS
The first set was a cat-and-mouse game with the Red Flash doing their best to keep close to the Knights. Down 24-19, a three-point run kept it close at the end of the set. Burns found a hole in the defense to begin the run. After an error by FDU,
Skye Eicher (Rostraver Township, Pa.) and Wallech dealt a block to make the score a narrow 24-22 in favor of the Knights.
Saint Francis picked up momentum, changing the tide in the second set. Â Up a close 15-12, a nine-point run put the Red Flash in a solid position to tie the match. After a solid rally,
Allison Murray (Pittsburgh, Pa.) found a hole in the middle of the Knights' side to widen the Saint Francis lead. Burns also found the middle, drawing a timeout from FDU. Eicher then sailed the ball into the back corner, keeping the serve with the Red Flash. After a bad set by FDU, Wallech sent the ball through the middle, tallying an ace. Up 20-12, three errors by the Knights put set point closer within reach. With Wallech still serving, she dropped the ball into the middle of the FDU side, scoring on another service ace.
FDU kept set three close until a three-point run gave the Red Flash enough of a gap to pull out in front in the match. Already up four, Murray fired the ball onto FDU's side of the court, extending the lead to 17-12. A bad set by the Knights kept momentum on Saint Francis's side before Wallech recorded her third service ace with the ball hitting a Knight before hitting the ground. The Knights kept at it, trying to stay in the set before kills by Burns and Murray gave Saint Francis a 2-1 set lead.
FLASH NUGGETS
In addition to setting new records, Burns also led the team in hitting percentage with .547.
Wallech recorded three service aces.
Emma Fenton (Latrobe, Pa.) tallied a season-high 26 assists in the win, tying with
Alexandra Sappia (West Palm Beach, Fla.).
Defensively,
Aubrey Deptula (Boca Raton, Fla.) led the team in blocks with one solo and four assisted blocks. McClure was right behind her with four assisted blocks.
Eicher registered 14 blocks to lead the Red Flash. She also earned 10 kills for a double-double.
UP NEXT
The Red Flash will take on LIU tomorrow night at 5 p.m. in the final regular season match before heading to the NEC Championship Tournament next weekend.
Â
