WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Saint Francis men's volleyball improved their record in Northeast Conference (NEC) action to 3-0 after beating FDU in four sets Friday night (23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-23).
>> The Red Flash have now won five-straight matches and eight of their last nine overall dating back to February 22 against Dominican (N.Y.).
>> Andrew Deardorff collected 20 kills, six digs, and five service aces. The senior now has 101 career service aces and according to the record book, he has become the fourth player in program history to achieve the feat.
>> Brady Stump tied his career-high total in kills with 18 in tonight's contest. He first recorded the mark on March 1 versus Charleston. The junior also posted two service aces and two blocks (one solo, one assisted).
TURNING POINTS OF THE MATCH
The first began as a tightly contested affair heading into the media timeout. Neither team gained a lead higher than two up until the score was 14-13 in favor of Saint Francis. The Red Flash scored the following point, and then pushed their run to 5-1 after the break to go up 19-14. FDU took over for the rest of the set by responding with a 10-2 rally to take a 24-21 lead. They'd go on to win set one, 25-23.
Set two began with the score knotted at five apiece in the first serves. Saint Francis scored three-straight points and would not relinquish the lead through the rest of the set. The Knights got as close as 10-9 and 19-18, but the Red Flash responded to their second rally by scoring another three consecutive points to thwart the first comeback. With the score at 24-20, FDU attempted another rally with three-straight points of their own to cut the deficit to 24-23. The comeback was for not, however, as Lynch and Stump combined for the block to tie the match at one set apiece.
The Red Flash held the lead throughout all of the third set. They extended their advantage to as high as 16-10 and held a 24-23 lead as FDU attempted a rally. The Knights stymied their own comeback with a service error to help Saint Francis win set three, 25-23.
Set four was hotly-contested from start to finish, as neither team would hold a lead larger than two throughout. The squads would battle until it was 22-22 all going into the final serves. Deardorff took over with two kills in a row to help the Red Flash go up 24-22. After a service error to cut the deficit to one, Sam Lane put an end to the match with a kill to give Saint Francis a 25-23 set four victory.
FLASH MOMENTS
Set one saw the Red Flash defense hold the Knights' offense to just eight kills on seven attack errors and a .031 hitting percentage.
Deardorff and Stump each had four kills in the second set to combine for eight of the 13 slams.
The Red Flash offensive attack had their best performance in set three. The team accumulated 16 kills on a .520 hitting percentage.
Deardorff dominated the final set of the match, racking up eight of his 20 kills during the fourth game. Beginning with the score at 20-19 in favor of FDU, the senior outside hitter was responsible for four of the final six points for Saint Francis.
In sets 2-4, the Red Flash offense combined for 44 kills with an average hitting percentage of .430.
FLASH NUGGETS
Saint Francis is 3-0 to start conference play for the second year in a row.
Deardorff has now tallied 20 or more kills in six matches this season. It was his 14th contest with double-digit slams overall. The senior is 65 away from reaching 1,000 career kills.
In seven of the last eight matches, Stump has notched 10 or more kills. Through the eight contests overall, he has registered 108 during the stretch.
The squad combined for 10 service aces, the third most in a match this season.
Kyle Charles dished out 48 assists and recorded an ace for the Saint Francis offense. Defensively, the freshman setter pitched in four digs and a solo block.
Deardorff and Luke Bockius tied for the team high in digs with six. The double libero lineup of Bockius and Richard Kaminski (5) combined for 11 overall.
Nicholas Lynch led the Red Flash with four blocks (two solo, two assisted).
Cole Dorn was third on the team in kills with seven. The junior added four digs, three blocks, and an ace as well.
Lane tallied five kills and a block.
NEXT UP FOR FLASH
Men's Volleyball will face the Knights in the second match of the season series Saturday afternoon at 1.
