>>Ryan Parker became the fifth player in program history to achieve 2,000 career assists, tallying 41 on the night. The senior setter tacked on eight digs, three service aces, and two blocks as well.
>>Andrew Deardorff led the way offensively with 16 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Nathan Zini recorded 15 of his own, the third straight match of 15 or more.
>>Peyton Blain added on to his NCAA-leading total with 17 digs tonight. He is now at 232, 45 away from the school record for the most digs in a single season.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
The Wildcats took set three to cut their match deficit to 2-1. In a pivotal set four, the score would be tied 12 separate times in a tightly-contested battle. It all came down to the final serves with the match tied at 24, where Zini kill and a duo block between Nicholas Lynch and Brady Stump helped clinch a 3-1 win for the Red Flash.
FLASH MOMENTS
The opening set was a close back and forth battle between the two teams, with the score being tied seven different teams. Saint Francis took a 16-13 lead, but the Wildcats fought back to make it 19-19. The final serves saw the Red Flash go on a 6-1 run to take control, and a Deardorff kill helped give the team a 1-0 lead by a final score of 25-20. Saint Francis's offense had a hitting percentage of .458.
The following set saw Saint Francis take command early, getting out to a 9-4 lead and never trailing throughout. Daeman cut it to as close as 13-12, but the Red Flash went on a 5-2 run to make it 18-14. With the score at 19-16 going into the end of the set, the home team proceeded to go on a commanding 6-2 run to go up 2-0 by a final score of 25-18.
Set three started out with Saint Francis holding a slim 11-10 lead. The Wildcats responded with a 8-4 run to take a lead of 18-14. The Red Flash countered with a 7-3 run of their own to knot it up at 21. Going into what potentially were the final serves of the match, the Wildcats took over with a 4-1 run to take their first set.
FLASH NUGGETS
Lynch had himself an all-around game, registering seven blocks, five digs, and three service aces.
Stump posted seven kills, four blocks, and four digs.
The Red Flash are now 5-0 in NEC play and gave the Wildcats their first conference loss of the season.
UP NEXT
Men's Volleyball has another match with the Wildcats Saturday, Mar. 23 at 4.
