WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis women's volleyball opened the 2023 season 1-1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton YSU Invitational, presented by Mercy Health on Friday.
>> In a hard-fought five sets, the Red Flash defeated Belmont to start their 2023 campaign 1-0 (25-23, 25-23, 19-25, 17-25, 15-11).
>> Playing in back-to-back matches, Saint Francis could not get the job done against Canisius, falling 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 18-25, 19-25).
TURNING POINTS
In the match against Belmont, the Red Flash came out strong, winning the first two sets 25-23. After Belmont tied the score at two sets apiece, the Bruins began to pull ahead in set five. However, three errors by Belmont and a kill by Korrin Bu
rns (Clarion, Pa.) put the Red Flash up 9-6, maintaining their lead through the rest of set five.
Canisius pulled away from Saint Francis in the back half of set four. The lead went back and forth until late in the set when the Golden Griffins went on a four-point run to make the score 21-18. The Red Flash earned a point on an error by Canisius, but, on the following play, Canisius got the kill to give them another four-point run to take the match 25-19.
FLASH MOMENTS
After being down three late in set one, the Red Flash found a surge of momentum to give them a lead in set one. The 5-0 run to claim the lead included kills by Skye Eicher (Rostraver Township, Pa.) and Burns, a service ace by Eicher and a block by Ava Holden (Macungie, Pa.).
In the early part of set two, the Red Flash went 5-0 to make the score 12-8, keeping them ahead the rest of the set. Maggie Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa.), Alexandra Sappia (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Burns and Eicher each had a kill, with Hogan scoring a service ace as well.
FLASH NUGGETS
Eicher and Burns are already a strong combination this season, registering 54 kills in the first two matches of the season (32 and 22, respectively). Sappia is the team leader in service aces with four this season.
On defense, Aubrey Deptula (Boca Raton, Fla.) leads the Red Flash in blocks, making five today. Burns currently leads the team in digs with 21, but Hogan is close behind her with 19.
UP NEXT
To wrap up their time at the 2023 YSU Invitational, the Red Flash will face the tournament-host Youngstown State Penguins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 26.
