WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>>Saint Francis University men's volleyball are set for two matchups in Fort Valley, GA against Edward Waters on March 5 at 5:00 p.m. and Fort Valley State the following night at 6:00 p.m.
>>Tuesday and Wednesday's matches will be the final set of matches in a 10-game road stretch for the Red Flash.
>>Live stat link for both matches
THE WORD ON EDWARD WATERS
Edward Waters is 4-6 on the season. They are in their third season of action. Against Charleston (Wv.) and Long Beach State, two opponents Saint Francis has faced this season, the Tigers dropped both matches and didn't take a set.
Outside hitter Tavion Ford leads the team with 121 kills and 45 digs. Fellow outside hitter Richard Hendricks has racked up 96 kills himself. Setting up the offense is Kenyon Haynes with 304 assists.
Aleksander Sobik is the blocks leader on defense with 14.
THE WORD ON FORT VALLEY STATE
Fort Valley State currently has a record of 6-4. The program is also in its third season of action. They have had one match against an opponent that the Red Flash have faced this season is Central State, where the Wildcats won in straight sets.
Jaxon Hicks leads the Wildcats with 85 kills and 51 digs. Jose Gallardo engineers the offense as the setter with 188 assists. On defense, Saferino Dour leads in blocks with 18.
LAST TIME WE MET THE TIGERS AND WILDCATS
Tuesday and Wednesday's matches will be the first time that Saint Francis is facing off against both programs. It will be the second and third matchups this season against a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponent, with the first coming against Central State on Jan. 20. The Red Flash defense held the Marauders' offense to -.038 hitting percentage in a 3-0 sweep.
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Francis is currently 9-6 overall and 4-0 in the Northeast Conference. Last Saturday's match saw the Red Flash lose in four sets to No. 17 George Mason.
Nathan Zini leads the team with 193 kills and 34 service aces. The junior racked up 16 kills last weekend against the Patriots, the seventh time this season he's reached 15 or more in a match.
Ryan Parker has racked up 513 assists for the offense and contributes 40 blocks on the defensive side. His 513 assists is an NEC-best and is currently 95 assists away from reaching 2,000 for his career.
Peyton Blain leads Saint Francis and the NEC in digs with 161. He had his fifth straight game with 10 or more digs against George Mason last Saturday with 11.
UP NEXT
Men's Volleyball will play in their first home match since Jan. 28 against Tusculum Monday, Mar. 11 at 7 p.m.
