WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> With the 19 kills from tonight's match, Korrin Burns now holds the program record for most kills in a season.
>> Alexandra Sappia collected 51 assists, pushing her up to fourth place in the program record for most assists in a season.
>> Alyssa Irwin recorded a career high of 15 kills.
>> Saint Francis beat Chicago State in four sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18).
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
The Red Flash came out with fire during set two with a very stern 6-1 run. This time Irwin started with a huge kill to set the tone from an assist from Sappia. Sappia was not done there as she defended the net, collecting herself a solo block. Burns once again found her rhythm going on a 3-0 run by herself. To cap off the run, the freshman, Gwen Atkins, found her swing to obtain a kill for the stat sheet.
Saint Francis did not like how close its 11-10 lead was, so the Red Flash found energy to extend the lead to 20-13. Irwin had a huge kill to give Saint Francis another point. Burns followed her footsteps to record another kill from Sappia. Then Kori McClure and Atkins teamed up at the net to block one of Chicago States players, forcing the Cougars to call a timeout. However, that did not stop the Red Flash from attacking. Sappia took a short break from setting and gained herself a kill. During that short break, she also collected another solo block at the net. McClure set up a beautiful dime to Paloma Gonzalez Jaramillo for a kill. To finish off this run, McClure had back-to-back aces. Saint Francis claimed the second set thanks to a Burns kill and Sappia ace. The Red Flash kept that same energy and did not give up another set, taking the win 3-1.
FLASH MOMENTS
Late in the first set, Saint Francis was down 22-13 to Chicago State, but a small run appeared after a service error from the Cougars. McClure got the first kill of the run, off a high set from Sappia. Sappia continued to set up assists for three straight Burns kills.
In the third set, Burns sparked an 8-2 run off of a kill and then Sappia service ace. Chicago State called a timeout in hopes of slowing down the Red Flash offense, but the Cougars had no luck as Alexa Chapla set up an assist for a Burns kill. Sappia set up Atkins, McClure, and Gonzalez Jaramillo all for a kill each. Once again Chicago State used a timeout to give its players some energy, but a McClure ace shut it down. Flash forward to the end of the set, the Red Flash went on a 4-0 run to take another set. Burns had two kills, and Sappia had another ace.
In the last set, Saint Francis went on a 6-2 run to pull ahead of the Cougars. Sappia set up a McClure for a loud statement kill down the middle. Next up was the lefty hitter Atkins. She recorded yet another kill from the right side. Gonzalez Jaramillo found herself up at the set to block an attack from a Cougars player and send it back down to the Chicago State side. Atkinns threw down another kill to end the run.
To win the last set, Saint Francis went on an 8-1 surge. Within this run, Irwin collected two kills, and Gonzalez Jaramillo and Burns each recorded one. Atkins found herself able to gain two aces behind the line. Irwin and Burns assisted on a huge block to give Saint Francis game point. The Cougars made an error, giving the Red Flash the fourth.
FLASH NUGGETS
Burns, the seven-time NEC Player of the Week and NEC Prime Performer, recorded 19 kills, nine digs, and two blocks. Burns added these kills to her season total, bringing the new program record to 491 kills and counting.
McClure, a NEC Player of the Week and three-time NEC Prime Performer, finished with eight kills, three aces, three blocks, and a hitting percentage of .467.
Atkins had 10 digs, eight kills, and three aces on the night.
Sappia finished the match with 51 assists, 10 digs, four kills, three aces, and two solo blocks. Sappia has earned NEC Prime Performer distinction each week of the 2025 season. This is the 18th time that she has had a double-double throughout her career. With these 51 assists, Sappia is now in fourth place in program history with 1,005.
Gonzalez Jaramillo collected 11 kills. This is the sixth time this season that she has reached double digits for the Red Flash.
Irwin recorded a new career high of 15 kills and two assisted blocks on the evening. She had a hitting percentage of .722 and a kill percentage of .833. This is the fifth time that Irwin has hit double digits in her career.
Chandler Alter grabbed 11 digs, allowing her to touch her ninth double digit game for Saint Francis.
NEXT ON TAP
Saint Francis is back tomorrow for its second match against the Cougars at 2pm. The Red Flash are back in DeGol for its last regular season series against Le Moyne on November 14 and 15. Saint Francis will be celebrating its senior night on Saturday the 15.
