WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis men's volleyball sweeps the EIVA in the NEC-EIVA Challenge after taking down Charleston (W.V.) Saturday night (20-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 15-12).
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Andrew Deardorff has now racked up 20 or more kills in five matches this season after accumulating 22 in tonight's contest. He also posted five digs, four blocks assisted, and one ace.
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Brady Stump almost notched a double double with a career-high 18 kills to go along with nine digs. The junior from York, Pa. pitched in three assisted blocks and one ace as well.
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Cole Dorn stuffed the box score with three career highs in kills (13), blocks (six assisted), and aces (3) while chipping in five digs.
TURNING POINTS OF THE MATCH
The first set was a battle through 3/4s of the way, with the teams tied at 19 heading into the final serves. The Golden Eagles put an end to the stalemate with a 6-1 run to take set one, 25-20.
Set two went a little differently, with Charleston getting out to a 13-10 advantage before the Red Flash had to call a timeout. The break woke up the team, as they got themselves back into it by going up 18-17. It was at this point when the squad broke through with a 7-1 run to close out the set. Dorn ended the matter with a kill to give Saint Francis a 25-18 second set win.
The script from the first set repeated itself in the third. The squads were deadlocked throughout the set until it was tied up at 17 all a little after the midway point. Just like set one, the Golden Eagles scored five straight points that ultimately proved to be a difference maker. The Red Flash attempted a comeback with a 5-2 rally to cut it to 24-22, but a slam from Charleston thwarted it and gave them a 25-22 set three victory.
With their backs against the wall, Saint Francis dominated set four. They got out to a 16-9 advantage and two Golden Eagle timeouts were not enough to stop the momentum. The home team held the opposing offense to a .000 hitting percentage to guide the match to a fifth set with a 25-15 set four win.
The fifth set began in a 9-9 tie between the two teams as the match was getting down to the wire. Just like the second set, the Red Flash went on a 4-1 run to go up 13-10, and it was this run that helped win them the match. At 14-12, Stump put an end to any Charleston rally with a kill to give the home team the victory.
FLASH MOMENTS
Saint Francis had their best offensive production in the second set, registering 17 kills to go with a .538 hitting percentage.
Along with holding the Golden Eagles' offense to a donut in terms of hitting percentage, the Red Flash defense combined for five total blocks as well.
Deardorff, Stump, and Dorn made their mark in the fifth set, tallying all nine kills between each other and were a part of 12 of the last 15 points overall. They helped lead the offense to a .417 hitting percentage in an efficient last set.
Nicholas Lynch was a wall in the extra set, tagging along in three blocks.
FLASH NUGGETS
Saint Francis has now won three-straight matches dating back to the 3-1 win over Dominican on February 22.
Deardorff has now posted double-digit kills in 10 of the last 11 contests and is up to 193 during his hot stretch. For his career, he is 147 away from 1,000.
The Red Flash accumulated 16 total blocks as a team, the most in a match by a Red Flash squad since February 24, 2019 in a 3-1 win over George Mason. Brayden Gall racked up his career high with eight (six assisted, two solo) and Lynch followed behind with his own career high of seven assisted.
Kyle Charles engineered the Saint Francis offense by dishing out 55 assists while leading them to 69 kills and a .370 hitting percentage. The freshman setter contributed three of his own slams while providing eight digs, two blocks, and one ace.
Richard Kaminski is up to four-straight matches with double-digit digs after registering a team-high 10 in tonight's victory.
NEXT UP FOR FLASH
Men's Volleyball will travel to the Carolinas to play Queens University of Charlotte and Erskine March 4-5.
