WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> The Red Flash are going to the NEC Championship for the first time since 2008.
>> Three players hit double digits equaling 52 kills.
>> Three players collected double digit digs accumulating to 37 digs.
>> Saint Francis beat FDU for the first time in the last three years during the NEC Semifinals (25-23, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19, 18-16).
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
With both teams having two sets under their belts, the game went into a fifth set. After being down 5-1, the Red Flash went on a 4-0 run to tie the game at five all. Alexandra Sappia set up Korrin Burns and Paloma Gonzalez Jaramillo for a kill each. Gwen Atkins collected a kill before the Knights could get set. Later in the set, with the Knights up 15-14 Burns tied it up 15 all. Then Kori McClure took over, laying down a kill and collecting an ace to put Saint Francis up 17-16. Burns set up a beautiful ball for McClure in the middle. McClure did not hesitate and slammed the ball down, hitting it off the liberos' hands right down to the ground. With that kill, Saint Francis will keep its season going thanks to a 3-2 win.
FLASH MOMENTS
With the first set tied at eight all between Saint Francis and FDU, the Red Flash found the fuel to go on an 8-2 run to give them some breathing room. Sappia found Burns for two back-to-back kills and then set a perfect dime up the middle for McClure to lay down. Chandler Alter took a break from collecting digs to set up a perfect assist for Burns to convert on, which was then followed by another Burns kill set up by a Sappia assist. The Knights were forced to call a timeout in hopes of cooling down the Red Flash offense. That did not stop Saint Francis as Sappia went right back out to set two more dimes to McClure. Burns ended the run with a service ace, just like McClure ended the set with an ace to claim the first.
During the second set, the Red Flash were not satisfied with their 17-14 lead, so they set up a 7-2 run to extend it. This run was started by a kill from Alyssa Irwin who sent her ball right past two FDU blockers. Then the lefty freshman, Atkins registered herself a service ace and scared the Knights into two errors. Irwin wanted some more action in the middle, so Sappia set up a ball for her to lay down. The defensive specialist, Alter, decided to throw some heat on her serve and sent one right off the hands of a defender to take the second set.
Saint Francis went on a 4-1 run halfway through the third set. Gonzalez Jaramillo was the driving force behind this little surge. Sappia set her up for two kills which both were sent straight to the ground. She then collected a duo block with Irwin.
In the fourth set, the Red Flash went on another little run, this time 4-0. They capitalized on the errors from FDU to put them ahead. Sappia set up a high ball to the left side for Burns to send right across the court. Atkins picked herself up another ace on the afternoon.
Saint Francis powered a 5-0 run after a timeout. McClure started this run up off a kill set up by Sappia. That kill scared the offense into making two attacking errors at the net. The middle blocker, McClure, slammed down another powerful kill to force FDU into a timeout. Although right after that, Burns, the NEC Player of the Year, collected her 21st kill of the game. That kill registered her as the all-time leading scorer in Saint Francis program history. Burns now has 1,435 career kills and will have at least one more game to add to her total.
FLASH NUGGETS
Burns, the eight-time NEC Player of the Week, NEC Prime Performer, and NEC Player of the Year, recorded 28 kills, seven digs, and two assisted blocks. Burns added these kills to her season total, bringing the new program record to 556 kills and counting. The 28 kills were a NEC Tournament record for Burns.
McClure, the NEC Player of the week, three-time Prime Performer, and All-NEC second team, registered 11 kills, three digs, three aces, two assisted blocks.
Atkins, the four-time NEC Rookie of the Week, had seven kills, five digs, and two aces on the night.
Alexa Chapla had 11 digs.
Sappia finished the match with 59 assists, 11 digs, and an ace. Sappia has earned 12 NEC Prime Performer and made All-NEC first team. These assists established a new personal record for Sappia. With these 59 assists, Sappia is now in second place in program history with 1,188 in single-season history.
Gonzalez Jaramillo collected 13 kills and two assisted blocks.
Alter had a team high of 15 digs.
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis advances to the NEC Championship tomorrow at 6 p.m. They will face the winner of LIU and Mercyhurst who play tonight at 7 p.m.
