WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis men's volleyball fell to No. 20 Penn State in the first match of the home-and-home series (28-30, 17-25, 24-26).

>> Andrew Deardorff continues his dominant stretch of matches with 20 kills, two aces, and two assisted blocks. It is the senior outside hitter's second-straight match with 20 kills after posting a career-high 26 versus Lincoln Memorial on February 1.

>> Sam Lane had another efficient offensive game with eight kills and a hitting percentage of .636. The junior middle blocker tied the team-high of three assisted blocks as well.

TURNING POINTS OF THE MATCH
The first set was a tight back-and-forth affair. Saint Francis got out to leads of 11-8 and 16-13, but Penn State fought back with a 4-1 rally to tie it at 17. From there, the teams exchanged point for point until it went into extra sets. The Red Flash had a chance to win it when the score was 24-23 and 25-24, but couldn't close the deal. Deardorff notched a kill to knot the score at 28, but the Nittany Lions closed the set out with a 2-0 run to go up 1-0 in the match.

Set two repeated the same script as set one, with the home team getting out to a quick 7-4 advantage. Penn State roared back to make the score 12 all heading into the middle of the set. They continued their comeback with a 5-0 run that helped give them momentum to outscore the Red Flash 13-5 in the final serves to take set two, 25-17.

The third set was another tight-contested battle that came down to the final serves. It started with Penn State gaining the upper hand with an 8-4 lead. Saint Francis had their own rally and made it an 18-18 game going into the final serves. It looked like the Nittany Lions would run away with the final set with a 4-0 run to go up 22-18, but the Red Flash roared back to make it 24 all. The 25th point was originally ruled a Nathan Hayes ace that would've continued the comeback, but it was overturned on review. Penn State took advantage after an attack error the following point guided them to the set three win. 

FLASH NUGGETS
Kyle Charles led the offense to 44 kills (including 17 in both sets one and three) by dishing out 39 assists and collecting two kills. The freshman setter matched the team-high of three assisted blocks with Lane and tallied four digs.

Brady Stump was third on the team with seven kills. The junior outside hitter added in four digs and one assisted block as well.

Brayden Gall got the start at middle blocker due to an injury from Nicholas Lynch. The sophomore middle blocker registered two kills and two assisted blocks.

Cole Dorn and Michael Mosbacher each had five digs.

NEXT UP FOR FLASH
Men's Volleyball will play Penn State at Rec Hall Saturday afternoon at 4.