Match Stats
- Saint Francis 3, Charleston 1 (25-21, 16-25, 25-13, 26-24)
- Saint Francis moves to 15-14, 10-4 EIVA; Charleston falls to 12-16, 0-14 EIVA
- Loretto, Pennsylvania
- Attendance: 243
- Box Score
Saint Francis wrapped the regular season on a six-match win streak capped by a 3-1 win over Charleston on Saturday. The Red Flash won the match 25-21, 16-25, 25-13, 26-24.
Senior opposite Jeff Hogan led the Red Flash with 10 kills, while also adding six digs. Junior outside hitter Brandon Buck posted nine kills, while hitting at a team-best .333 clip. Senior middle blocker Nick Bennett and redshirt junior outside Stephen Braswell followed with six kills apiece. Bennett also put up a team-leading five blocks, while Braswell served up three aces.
Charleston’s balanced offensive attack was led by senior outside Brian Cranston’s eight kills, .333 hitting percentage and five digs. Sophomore middle Eugene Stuart added seven kills and a team-best five blocks. Junior outside Ryan Santos chipped in six kills and four digs. Junior defensive specialist Darren DePelligrini managed a team-high six digs.
Braswell served up two aces and Adam Kniffen added two kills as SFU took an early 6-2 lead in Set 1. A trio of Red Flash miscues helped Charleston to a tie at 7-all. Four different players managed putaways as Saint Francis surged ahead 13-9. An ace by Cranston and a kill by Santos made it a one-point game at 14-13. SFU took control by scoring six of the next seven points, including two kills and a block by Kniffen. The Golden Eagles battled back to within two at 23-21 as Saint Francis committed four errors. A service error and a block clinched the Red Flash win.
Nine Saint Francis miscues helped Charleston to a 13-7 advantage in Set 2. Four more SFU errors pushed the margin to 10 at 21-11. Kills by Cranston and Conner Brandland ended the set.
The teams split the first 10 points of Set 3, but seven Charleston errors and four kills each by Buck and Hogan lifted Saint Francis to a 25-13 win.
After a tie at 8-all, Charleston took a 13-10 lead with help from a pair of SFU miscues. Three kills and a block by Braswell helped the Red Flash into a tie at 18-all. A block by Daniel Ford and Hayden Herc put Saint Francis up 24-22. Charleston answered with a pair of blocks to stave off two match-point chances. A kill and an ace by Buck ended the night.
Watch the match here.
PRESS RELEASES
Courtesy: Saint Francis Athletics
Flash Points:
- Saint Francis finished the regular season with a 15-14 overall record and was 10-4 in the EIVA.
- SFU honored seniors Jeff Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria), Adam Kniffen (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe), Tony Nicotra (Allison Park, Pa./Deer Lakes), Nick Bennett (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East), Daniel Ford (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) and Joseph Wojciechowski (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) prior to Saturday’s match.
- Jeff Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria) led the Flash with 10 kills.
LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis men’s volleyball team sent off the senior class with a 3-1 defeat over the University of Charleston on Saturday afternoon at DeGol Arena. The Flash won 25-21, 16-25, 25-13, and 26-24.
Saint Francis finished the regular season with a 15-14 overall record and a 10-4 conference record, while Charleston ends the season with a 12-17 record and was 0-14 in the EIVA. Jeff Hogan (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria) led the Flash with 10 kills while Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) contributed with nine. Stephen Braswell (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) finished with three service aces and three blocks. Nick Bennett (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) recorded five blocks, while Daniel Ford (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) finished with 26 assists and Gabe Woffindin (Allentown, Pa./William Allen) ended the match with 10 digs.
Saint Francis jumped out to a commanding 6-2 lead after a pair of Braswell service aces. Charleston responded with a 4-0 run to tie the set at 7-7. A kill by Adam Kniffen (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe), Braswell and Bennett pulled the Flash ahead, 13-9. Out of a Charleston timeout, the Golden Eagles rattled off three unanswered points to cut the deficit to one, 13-12. Leading 20-14, it seemed the Flash put the set out of reach, but the Eagles trimmed the Flash lead to 21-18 after scoring four of the next five points. Two Charleston service errors gave the Flash the 25-21 win.
Charleston started the second set with an 8-3 advantage. The Golden Eagles never looked back and cruised to a 25-16 win.
The Red Flash took control of the third set by leading 8-5. With Saint Francis leading 10-8, SFU scored 11 of the next 13 to put the set to rest, 25-13.
The Golden Eagles got the quick start in the fourth set, leading 5-2. Kills from Brandon Buck (Baden, Pa./Ambridge) and Braswell tied the set at 8-8. Two SFU errors and a Donovan Wilmott kill put the Golden Eagles up 13-10. U of C continued to maintain its lead, but the Flash rallied to tie the set at 18-18. Saint Francis broke a 22-22 tie to have match point at 24-22, but Charleston held off match point to knot the score at 24-24. A kill from Buck and a service ace gave the Flash the set and match 26-24.
Saint Francis travels to Penn State University to face Sacred Heart in the first round of the EIVA playoffs next Thursday at 5 p.m.
Leave a Reply