Flash Sweep New York to Complete Successful Weekend
(30-17, 30-17, 32-20)
Loretto, Pa. – After downing the 12th ranked Patriots of George Mason on Friday night, Saint Francis retained their focus by sweeping New York University by a 3-0 count (30-17, 30-17, 32-20).
Sophomore Nick Rivett (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) notched 10 kills on 15 attempts as well as pacing SFU with 11 defensive digs in Saturday afternoon’s battle. 6’6 Sophomore Patrick McManamon (Huntington, Pa./Huntington) accurately killed seven balls on nine swings. Sophomore Dave Reilly (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) pealed in for seven kills of his own in addition to two service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Varee (Meadville, Pa./Conneault Valley) 8.5 points on five kills, two aces, a solo block and a blocking assist. 6’3 sophomore outside hitter Alex Fortney (York, Pa./Central York) earned his most significant time of the season with three kills, one dig and one solo block. Sophomore Pete Freyer (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) played a well-rounded game with four kills, one ace, one dig and three blocking assists. Once again, Junior setter Shane Conley (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) led the Flash with 28 assists.
The Red Flash killed 37 balls on 68 whacks for an attacking rate of .324. The New York University Violets put up 33 kills on 93 swings for a clip of .054.
Saint Francis offered up nine service aces in comparison to NYU’s five. SFU’s defensive mindset was also keener than NYU’s as they outdug the Violets 27 to 16.
After Conley started off the first game with a beautifully arced ace, the Flash rattled off the next two points. Saint Francis moved out to a commanding 8-2 lead, dominating in all facets, forcing NYU head coach Jose Pina to take the match’s first break. McManamon misplayed an NYU kill after the pause, but Varee took over on the serve after NYU’s attack hit the antenna wide. Varee plastered a serve right off a Violets chest, but New York came back with three points of their own off of two SFU errors and a service ace. The Violets pushed their next two swings wide, but Rivett’s next serve found SFU’s side of the net with the score reading 12-7. After an exchange of errors, McManamon earned a kill and took over on the serve with the board at 17-10. Varee and Freyer then scaled the mesh together for a dual block. NYU tried to return the favor, but their block went astray. Varee doubled up the Violets, 20-10, with his second kill of the match leading to NYU’s second time out of game one. New York came out of the huddle with a kill from Willy McFarland, but SFU maintained their composer by putting up the next three points. Freyer slipped an ace by the Violets as the score was extended to 25-15. McManamon and Varee teamed up for a kill apiece, pushing the count to 28-16. McManamon nudged it to game point after an accurate attack, and Rivett sent the Violets packing to the other side of the court with a 30-17 game one victory. Rivett killed four balls and dug five in his game one effort. McManamon hit 100% on four attempts as the Flash outdid the Violets .474 to .062 in the attacking department.
NYU started off the second tilt with a kill from Mike Ferragonio, but McManamon put his fifth kill in the stats pack in return. NYU put up the next two tallies, but Rivett drew the game to 3-2. Freyer’s first successful kill in the match tied up game two. Ecah squad swapped points on the next four rallies, but Rivett gave the Flash their first lead of the game two with his sixth kill of the bout. Saint Francis danced out to a 12-8 count through a medley of kills and Violets errors. Reilly notched his first service ace followed up by a stiff block on Varee’s behalf, forcing NYU to take a timeout with the Flash up six, 14-8. NYU’s Francis Hogdson came out of the break with a kill, but McManamon blistered one at NYU libero David Tener on the serve on the subsequent play. McManamon’s serve marked SFU’s sixth ace of the match. After Varee yanked an NYU kill of the hardwood, Conley rose up for a proficient kill to push the score to 19-12. Freshman Seth Katich (Pittsbugh, Pa./Fox Chapel) entered into the first minutes of the match and threw two serves at NYU resulting in Saint Francis points. New York University took their second time out as the score read 25-16. The Flash battled out to a 29-17 advantage and ended up claiming game two by the same tally as game one, 30-17. Saint Francis sprinkled their attacking up and down the entire roster as Reilly and Rivett claimed three kills, Varee and Freyer earned two and McManamon and Conley chimed in for one apiece as well. Saint Francis took the attacking battle once again, .318 to -.040. The Flash punished the Violets with four aces in game two.
In game three, McManamon launched game two with a kill and a solo block to hand the Flash a 2-0 lead. Reilly broadened the lead with a point of his own and then teamed up with McManamon for a dual block to nudge the score to 4-0. The Violets found their way back, though, with multiple SFU errors, and Saint Francis head coach Mike Rumbaugh decided the Flash’s first timeout of the match was in order as his team trailed, 7-4. Fortney cleared his first point of the match with a brutal kill. NYU and SFU traded two service errors, respectively, as the score moved out to 10-7 in favor of New York. Freyer and Reilly welded together for a block that drew the Flash to a 10-10 tie. NYU then went long on the following attack and the Flash recaptured the lead in game three. NYU’s Mike Ferragonio blocked Fortney’s attack, but Reilly backed up Fortney with a kill of his own to keep the tally tied at 13-13. Rivett and McManamon leaped up for a go-ahead kill as NYU pushed their next attack wide, handing the Flash a two-point benefit. NYU scratched back with two scores as the board remained dead-locked at 18-18. New York’s Willy McFarland produced an ace, but Freyer countered with a kill to keep game three knotted up. Rivett put an ace and a kill through NYU to boost the Flash by two, 21-19. NYU decided to call a timeout once the Flash vaulted to a 24-20 lead, just six points away from back-to-back victories. New York utilized the break and scored the next three points, but Reilly piped one through the opposing defense to put the score at 25-23. Fortney put up his first block of the game followed by Rivett finding the line as the Flash moved out to a 27-24 led. Fortney found a hole on NYU’s security, but NYU kept it within one on a forceful kill. Fortney then killed it to match point, 29-27. NYU tied it at 29 all, but they turned it over on a service error. Freyer took over on the third match point and NYU knocked it long as the Flash took game three and swept the Violets 3-0.
Saint Francis (5-4) earned back-to-back EIVA victories in their weekend home stand against 12th ranked George Mason and Hay Division opponent NYU. With those two victories, Saint Francis moves back over the .500 mark and 1-1 in conference play.
The Flash will host two MIVA teams starting on Friday, February 8 at 7:00pm in DeGol Arena. On Friday, the Flash will clash with IPFW and then take on Loyola (Ill.) on Saturday, February at 1:00pm.