>>Michael Mosbacher led the offense in kills with 22 kills, the most by a Red Flash player since Andrew Deardorff recorded 23 on April 15, 2023 against Daeman. The junior outside hitter also added four digs and two service aces.
>>Nathan Kill had a strong game offensively, racking up 14 kills with a hitting percentage of .684. He also registered five service aces, the third time this season that the junior opposite has had five or more.
>>Peyton Blain tallied a career-high 18 digs. It is the 11th match this season where the senior libero has had 10 or more.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Fort Valley State took set three to cut their match deficit to 2-1. With a potential comeback on the horizon, set four started out with Saint Francis having a close 6-4 lead. The Red Flash proceeded to go on a 14-5 run to build a lead as high as 20-9, and carried the momentum to a 25-14 set win to wrap up the match.
The offense recorded 16 kills and posted a hitting percentage of .714 in the final set.
FLASH MOMENTS
The opening set was a close back and forth starting out, with the teams tied at 12 apiece. It'd continue to be close, as the Red Flash held a 20-18 lead going into the final serves. The squad would put the set away with a 5-2 run and was capped off by a Mosbacher kill to give the team a 25-20 set win.
Set two was commanded by Saint Francis, jumping out to a 6-1 start and proceeded to carry the momentum to a lead as high as 18-7. The stifling Red Flash defense held the Wildcats' offense to a .089 hitting percentage in the set. Nathan Zini finished off set two with the kill as the squad took a 25-15 set win to go up 2-0.
The Red Flash jumped out to a 12-8 lead in set three, but Fort Valley State responded with a 6-2 run to keep the potential final set close. It would turn into a tight back and forth battle down the stretch, as neither team had a lead over two going into the final serves. With the score tied at 25, the Wildcats tallied two straight points to take set three by a score of 27-25.
FLASH NUGGETS
Starting again at setter, Nathan Hayes registered 43 assists and 10 digs. He engineered the offense to an overall hitting percentage of .435.
Brayden Gall had five kills on eight attacks once again in his second career start. Between both matches against Edward Waters and Fort Valley State, the freshman middle blocker racked up 10 kills on 16 attacks
Wednesday night's match marks the end of a 10-game road stretch for the Red Flash.
UP NEXT
Men's Volleyball will play in their first home match since Jan. 28 when they take on Tusculum Monday, Mar. 11 at 7.
