With a two-set lead, momentum remained on the Saint Francis side in the third set. Only up two, a four-point run gave the Red Flash some distance ahead of the Pioneers. A service error by Sacred Heart got the ball rolling for Saint Francis. Eicher then set a hard ball to the opposite corner on the Pios' side, drawing a Sacred Heart timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Aubrey Deptula (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Kori McClure (Westerville, Ohio) delivered a block on the right side. On the side again, McClure sent a hard ball into the hands of a Pioneer who was unable to play the ball, making the score 13-7.

While Sacred Heart did not give up, Saint Francis continued to keep their lead. At 23-18, Korrin Burns (Clarion, Pa.) sailed the ball past the Pioneers' defense to set up match point. With Red Flash fans on their feet, McClure dealt the final kill getting the ball past the Pioneers while remaining inbounds.

FLASH MOMENTS
The Red Flash came out strong in the first set. A five-point run in the middle of the set gave Saint Francis a comfortable 19-12 lead. After Deptula sent one at the Sacred Heart libero to begin the run, McClure sailed the ball through the Pioneers' defense. An error by Sacred Heart furthered the Saint Francis lead to 16-12. Burns knocked the ball into the back corner of the Pioneers' side, causing Sacred Heart to take a timeout. After the timeout, two more errors by Sacred Heart put Saint Francis in a good position to win the set. Later in the first set, Eicher got the ball past the defense to set up set point. After Drew Wallech (Hagerstown, Md.) served, Sacred Heart made an error, giving Saint Francis the set.

Sacred Heart began the second set up 11-5 before Saint Francis began its comeback. Allison Murray (Pittsburgh, Pa.) notched a kill before Wallech tipped the ball onto the Sacred Heart side. After an error by the Pios, Burns tallied a kill from the middle on the Red Flash side to make it a close 11-9 set.

After kills by McClure and Murray tied and gave Saint Francis the lead, a four-point run with two errors by Sacred Heart tipped the score in the Red Flash's favor. Eicher was relentless, finally scoring after sending the ball off the hand of a Sacred Heart player to earn set point. A service error by Saint Francis narrowed their lead to 24-22 before Eicher launched the ball just inside to win the set.

FLASH NUGGETS
Burns earned the second-most kills for the Red Flash with 12.

Eicher and Wallech each tallied two service aces, with Burns, Maggie Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa.) and Alexandra Sappia (West Palm Beach, Fla.) each recording one of their own.

Sappia also led the team in assists with 26.

Hogan recorded 11 digs to lead Saint Francis.

Defensive efforts were by committee by the Red Flash with four players each tallying three assisted blocks. Saint Francis's leaders at the net were Deptula, McClure, Murray and Wallech.

UP NEXT
Saint Francis will take on CCSU on Saturday night at 5 p.m. for their final home match of the season. This year's seniors will be recognized at the start of the match.