WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis men's volleyball falls to NJIT in their second match in New Jersey Saturday night (21-25, 22-25, 23-25).
>> Andrew Deardorff led the Red Flash with 12 kills and three service aces. It marks the third-straight match in which the senior opposite hitter had double-digit kills and three or more aces.
>> Sam Lane and Michael Mosbacher each had eight kills. Lane was efficient around the net with a hitting percentage of .667.
TURNING POINT OF THE MATCH
The Highlanders took sets one and two to go up 2-0 in the match. They started the third set with an 8-2 lead. After a timeout, Saint Francis responded with a furious 11-5 run to tie the set at 13. The teams exchanged points until the score was 19. That was when NJIT went on their own 4-1 run to pull ahead 23-20.
The Red Flash battled back by scoring three straight points to tie the set again at 23 apiece. It forced a Highlanders' timeout, which proved to be crucial. The home team scored the final points to win the set and match by a set five final score of 25-23.
FLASH MOMENTS
The opening set started with NJIT getting out to a 11-7 lead, but the Red Flash fought back to make it just a 12-11 deficit. The Highlanders countered with a 4-1 run to go up 16-12. This run proved to be the difference maker in the set. Saint Francis got it as close as 20-18 and 23-21, but NJIT scored the final two points to take set one, 25-21.
Set two began with the teams battling. The score was tied four times through the first 10 points for each team. The Highlanders put an end to the ties with a 6-2 run to put themselves ahead 16-12 and pushed their advantage to 20-17. The Red Flash put together a rally by scoring five of the next eight points to make it a 23-22 deficit. The comeback fell short, however, as NJIT once again scored two straight points to win the second set, 25-22.
FLASH NUGGETS
Kyle Charles tallied 10 digs for the first time in a collegiate match in tonight's contest. The freshman setter also contributed 27 assists and led the Saint Francis offense to tie its season best for hitting percentage at .244.
Cole Dorn notched his first career service ace in the third set. The junior outside hitter also tallied his first kill of the season.
NEXT UP FOR FLASH
Men's Volleyball will play in the Harvard Invitational Jan. 31-Feb. 1 against Purdue Fort Wayne and Lincoln Memorial. Both matches will start at 4:00 p.m.
