WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
>> Brady Stump led with 11 kills.
>> Brayden Kuruzovich recorded 31 assists for the second night in a row.
>> Saint Francis beat Catawba in three (25-22, 28-26, 25-18).
TURNING POINT OF THE GAME
Stump put the Red Flash on the board with a dominate kill down the left side that was set up by Kuruzovich. After several back-and-forth points, Saint Francis was down 7-8 but went on 4-1 run. Sam Lane found his groove with a solid kill thrown over by Kuruzovich. Kuruzovich set up Nathan Zini for a kill right before collecting one of his own. Cole Dorn registered two kills, and Stump threw in an additional kill to push the Red Flash gap.
Catawba climbed back, taking the lead late in the first set. However, Saint Francis went on a 6-2 surge to win the set. Stump once again started the run which was followed by a Lane and Kuruzovich duo block to force an Indians' timeout. That did not stop the Red Flash as Lane and Kuruzovich recorded yet another duo block. Lane collected his third kill of the night right before he finished the set with an ace. Saint Francis continued to dominate each set with the 3-0 sweep over Catawba.
FLASH MOMENTS
Saint Francis went on a quick 3-1 run early in the second. Kuruzovich set up Stump twice and then Stump recorded a service ace. A few points later, the match was tied 5-5. Nicholas Lynch had a kill and then next play he set up Zini for another kill. Dorn collected the teams four ace on the evening. The Indians fought back to tie the score 25 all. After a Catawba kill, Kuruzovich set up Zini and Stump for back-to-back kills to take the second set 28-26.
The Red Flash fueled a 5-1 run with help from a Stump ace, Lane kill, and solo block by Lynch. Saint Francis kept collecting kills to put them up 14-8. Kuruzovich threw up a dime for Luke Colquette to register the kill. Tate Myatt recorded a service ace and then set up Stump for the match point.
FLASH NUGGETS
Stump, a NEC Player of the Week and three-time Prime Performer, finished the night with 11 kills, five digs, and four aces.
Zini collected eight kills, five digs, and a .368 hitting percentage.
Kuruzovich tossed in 31 assists, two kills, six digs, and five assisted blocks.
Lane had seven kills, two digs, four assisted blocks and one solo, and a .875 hitting percentage.
Dorn had seven digs and five kills.
NEXT ON TAP
The Red Flash heads to Brooklyn, N.Y. for a two-game series against LIU before they spend spring break in California.
