WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Korrin Burns finished with another double-double (28 kills and 11 digs).
>> Gwen Atkins, the freshman, registered 12 kills.
>> Kori McClure collected a team high of four service aces.
>> Saint Francis beat Mercyhurst 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 25-23, 25-18) for the second time this season.
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
At the start of the third set, both teams claimed a set and were looking to grab another. The Red Flash come out hot, with a kill from both McClure and Burns. However, the Lakers still had some of their momentum from the previous set and went on their own 6-1 run to take the lead. Saint Francis and Mercyhurst were going point for point to stay in a very close matchup. Paloma Gonzalez Jaramillo, Burns, McClure, Atkins, and Alyssa Irwin all threw up kills to keep the Red Flash close. With the Red Flash down 21-17, Burns stepped up and slammed down a kill along the left side of the court causing the Lakers offense to have back-to-back errors. Atkins, Gonzalez Jaramillo, and Burns all grabbed kills at the end of the set to win and kept fueling the fire to claim the match.
FLASH MOMENTS
With the Red Flash behind 8-5, Irwin gave them some fire to pull ahead with a kill set up by Alexandra Sappia. Saint Francis continued with the 7-1 run thanks to help from all across the board. Alexa Chapla set up Burns for a kill, followed by a Chandler Alter service ace, and then another Burns kill set up by Alter. Burns had another kill to tie the set at nine all. Burns continued to stay all over the court with a duo block from her and McClure as the Red Flash took the lead. To end the set in a win, Saint Francis went on a 13-5 run. Several players contributed including an Atkins kill, a McClure kill and two aces, two Gonzalez Jaramillo kills, two Irwin kills, and five Burns kills.
In the fourth set, Saint Francis went on two major runs to keep the lead. The first was a 4-0 run that built off a service error from Mercyhurst then continued into two aces from McClure and a demolishing kill from Gonzalez Jaramillo. The second and securing run was an 8-1 run at the very end of the set to claim the game. It started by a Sappia set up to McClure who converted it into a kill. Atkins laid down a kill and then Gonzalez Jaramillo followed with one of her own. McClure grabbed another kill set up by the one and only Alexandra Sappia. Burns recorded a service ace to give Saint Francis a wide gap for the lead. Finishing off the night was the freshman Atkins on a beautiful kill right through the Lakers defense.
FLASH NUGGETS
Burns, the six-time NEC Player of the Week and NEC Prime Performer, registered 28 kills, 11 digs, three service aces, and two blocks. She finished the match with a hitting percentage of .457. This is Burns 21st game with 20+ kills and 22nd double-double of her career.
McClure, a NEC Player of the Week and three-time NEC Prime Performer, finished with seven kills, four service aces, three digs, and a .500 attack percentage.
Gwen Atkins collected 12 kills and seven digs. This is her fourth time this season hitting double digits.
Sappia finished the match with 42 assists and nine digs. Sappia has earned NEC Prime Performer distinction each week of the 2025 season.
Gonzalez Jaramillo collected seven kills.
Irwin recorded nine kills on the evening.
NEXT ON TAP
The Red Flash are back in DeGol Arena for another two-game series this Friday at 6pm and Saturday at 5pm against LIU. This will also be its Dig Pink game, as the Red Flash celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month during its final October game on Friday.
