WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis University men's volleyball defeated D'Youville on Friday in a straight set sweep to improve to 14-11 overall and 11-2 in the Northeast Conference (NEC).
 
>> Blake Liprando (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) led the Red Flash on the offensive end with 10 kills and added two service aces.
 
>> Brandon Dunz (Lake View, N.Y./Frontier) led the team on the defensive end by notching a staggering 7.0 total blocks and adding five digs on Friday.
 
>> Ryan Parker (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) and AJ Schmidt (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) worked as a setting duo in the game. Parker with 15 assists over two sets and Schmidt with eight assists in one set.
 
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
The first set started off as a very close game that the Red Flash were eventually able to captivate on. With D'Youville up 12-11 in the first set, Saint Francis notched a 10-3 run to take a 21-15 lead over the Saints. Saint Francis held this lead for the remainder of the first set to come away with set one, 25-20. The Red Flash continued this momentum the rest of the game for the sweep over the Saints.
 
FLASH MOMENTS
The second set started off similar to the first with being close. However, the Red Flash put an end to that very quickly with a 14-1 run to dominate set two. Saint Francis continued to chip away to earn the second set, 25-14 thanks to a set point kill from Thomas Leahey (State College, Pa./State College Area), coming from Parker.
 
The third and final set was all Red Flash as the team started it off with a 9-4 run to never allow the Saints to lead in set three. Saint Francis led by as much as 14 in the third set thanks to three consecutive kills from Braden Richard (York, Pa./Central York). A service error from the Saints secured the final set for the Red Flash, 25-12.
 
FLASH NUGGETS
With Saint Francis' win and Daemen's loss to FDU on Friday, the Red Flash and Daemen are now tied for first place in the NEC. Therefore, the winner of Saturday's game between the Wildcats and Red Flash will determine the NEC Regular Season Champions.
 
UP NEXT
The Red Flash will conclude the regular season Saturday, April 15 against Daemen at 4:00 p.m. DeGol Arena will recognize nine men's volleyball seniors prior to Saturday's game against the Wildcats for their hard work and dedication to the program for the past four years.