WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>>Saint Francis men's volleyball took a 2-1 set lead, but dropped the final two sets to lose in five to Purdue Fort Wayne Friday night.
>>Nathan Zini led the way on both ends for the Red Flash, tallying 19 kills, 10 digs, three service aces, and 1.5 total blocks.
>>Andrew Deardorff stuffed the stat sheet with 14 kills, eight digs, two total blocks, and two service aces.
>>Peyton Blain recorded a career-high 16 digs to increase his Northeast Conference-leading total to 78.
TURNING POINT OF THE MATCH
The two teams were tied at two sets apiece going into set five. They engaged in a close duel in the final set, but the Red Flash took a 13-12 lead with a chance to take home the win. The Mastodons responded with a 3-0 run to take the set and match, 15-13.
FLASH MOMENTS
Saint Francis got off to a red hot 5-0 start in the opening set, but a Mastodons timeout guided them back into it. With the score at 17 apiece, Purdue Fort Wayne went on a 3-0 run that gave them a lead they'd never give up. The Red Flash cut it to 24-23, but a Jon Dietrich kill would end the set with the home team taking a 1-0 set lead.
The Red Flash started off set two with another hot start, taking a 6-2 lead and never relinquishing the lead. Purdue Fort Wayne would make it close at 16-13, but Saint Francis responded with a 9-3 run. Michael Mosbacher's kill for match point helped the team tie up the match, 25-16.
Set three began as a close one, with it being tied at six apiece. The Red Flash took over there, scoring the next three points and riding the momentum to a lead as high as 24-18. The Mastodons cut it to four, but a Nicholas Lynch kill wrapped up set three to help give Saint Francis a 2-1 lead by a score of 25-20.
It was another close battle in the fourth set, with Purdue Fort Wayne taking a 20-17 lead deep into the set. The Red Flash fought back with a 6-2 run to make it 23-22 with a chance to win the match in the final serves. After a timeout from Purdue Fort Wayne, they extended the match with a 3-0 run to take set four, 25-23.
FLASH NUGGETS
Mosbacher recorded 11 kills off the bench, the first time in his collegiate career he made it into double-digits.
Offensively, Saint Francis recorded a season-high 63 kills. It was helped out by setter Ryan Parker being the engine of the offense with 50 assists, a season-high for the senior.
Lynch continued being efficient on the offensive side, tallying seven kills on nine attacks. He has 22 kills on 25 attacks in the last three matches and has not registered an attack error.
The Red Flash recorded a season-high 52 digs and 9.5 total blocks. Sam Lane led the team with three blocks. Deardorff and Parker tallied two apiece along with accumulating eight digs as well.
UP NEXT
Men's Volleyball travels to Charleston, WV next week for two matches against the Charleston Golden Eagles Feb. 9-10. Both matches will be at 6:00 p.m.
